AS the age-old adage goes, pets are for life not just for Christmas.

And as the festivities fade into memory, the annual problem of unwanted pets becomes a stark reality.

Across the UK almost 119,000 animals had to be rescued last year, and a further 143,003 cases of animal cruelty investigated, according to statistics published by the RSPCA.

Dorset-based Margaret Green Animal Rescue Centre takes on such animals, and others that have become homeless due neglect, abandonment, or a change of circumstances, and rehabilitates them in the hope every one will be rehomed.

Located on 35 acres of countryside in the village of Church Knowle, near Wareham, is the charity’s rehoming and visitor centre, home to pigs, cats, donkeys and geese, among many other animals.

At Christmas the centre appealed for shoeboxes of treats for the animals.

Centre manager Kate Wickins said: “On Christmas Day we came down and gave all the animals a present.

“Every single animal on the site gets a treat right down to the chickens- they love sweetcorn. We are closed to the public on Christmas Day and it makes it really special to spend time with the animals.”

Kate’s team of 18 animal care staff and 63 active volunteers work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure every animal that comes through their gate gets the best quality care.

Volunteers give up their time to do a number of jobs around the centre including poo-picking, gardening, dog walking, or even just spending time relaxing with the felines in the well-equipped cattery.

“We couldn’t do all this without the help of volunteers,” Kate said.

“It is phenomenal what people give, not just in terms of money, but they give their time as well. It always amazes me what people do for us."

While the charity looks after upwards of 1,200 animals a year, it receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity and support of the public.

Apart from the visitor centre, which takes on every animal except for dogs, Margaret Green also has Lincoln Farm rescue and rehoming Centre for dogs, near Bere Regis.

Once in the care of the Margaret Green team, animals settle in quickly.

Spice, a 21-year-old Welsh pony, required a lot of rehabilitation and hard work from the team.

Kate said: “He was so scared when he first came to us. He jumped off the lorry when he got here, but now he is stable and has a really lovely temperament. He is being treated for Cushing’s disease and he will remain on medication for the rest of his life.”

Margaret Green is open to the public every day apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day and welcomes people to visit the animals as often as they wish.