Congratulations to the Blue Cross for finding homes for five puppies born there after their mother was found wandering the streets (“Puppies bound for new homes”, Advertiser, July 8).

The Blue Cross does the most wonderful work in rescuing and finding homes for dogs, cats and other animals and I cannot praise them highly enough.

However, so many dogs and cats are “unwanted” or abandoned these days, that such rescue centres are unable to accommodate them all, meaning that many thousands end up being “put down” every year.

The main cause of the problem is the excessive breeding of these animals, but members of the public can help prevent this, by only obtaining animals from rescue centres (rather than from pet shops or breeders) and by making sure they get their dogs and cats neutered or spayed.

Denise Garside

Stoke Road, Bromsgrove