Last year the SPCA took in 1 221 dogs and 501 cats, compared to 1 336 dogs and 601 cats in 2006.

Only 333 dogs were re-homed last year, and 239 were collected by their owners.

Of the 501 cats, only 197 were re-homed and 22 were collected by their owners.

The remainder were either put down or are still with the SPCA urgently looking for new homes.

In December alone 95 dogs, of which 29 were puppies, and 66 cats, of which 35 were kittens, were brought to the SPCA.

So far this month, the SPCA has received 98 dogs and 34 cats.

The SPCA only has the capacity to house 140 dogs at a time and many will have to be put down if they do not find homes.

On Monday night three bitches with 17 puppies were dropped off at the SPCA.

All the dogs were confiscated by a concerned citizen from a house in Windhoek West.

The mother dogs are malnourished and have tick-bite fever - they are in no condition to feed their puppies.

All animals re-homed by the SPCA are sterilised and vaccinated.

The SPCA also sterilises dogs and cats at a reduced fee for people who cannot afford to pay the full cost.

Pet owners must bring their pets and proof of their income after making an appointment with the SPCA, after which a reduced fee will be calculated.

The pet will also be vaccinated.

A bitch that is not sterilised can have roughly 250 puppies during a two-year period, which usually end up as unwanted dogs scrounging for food on the streets, and having more puppies of their own.

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