MORE than 1,400 animals were taken to the RSPCA Newport Animal Centre for treatment over the past two years.

Helping to rehabilitate and rehome animals with the “greatest need” brought in by RSPCA inspectors, the Newport Animal Centre cared for 733 animals in 2010 and 683 up to December 14 this year.

In 2010, staff at the centre dealt with 274 cats, 248 dogs, 30 captive birds like budgies, 11 fish, 13 guinea pigs, and 79 pet mammals like gerbils, hamsters and ferrets.

The centre also took in 66 rabbits, one reptile, three water birds like ducks, seven wild birds such as black birds and sparrows, and one wild mammal, such as rabbits.

This year, 334 cats have been treated at the centre, along with 212 dogs, 22 captive birds, ten guinea pigs, 47 pet mammals, 53 rabbits, one reptile, one water bird, one wild mammal and a farm animal.

Elaine Buchan, centre manager, said the centre is busy and pretty much full to capacity all the time.

The centre has 35 dog kennels, 22 cat pods and a variety of spaces for smaller animals.

Mrs Buchan said: “We rehabilitate them and deal with medical issues and then rehome them.

With the wild birds we work closely with other agencies to release them back into the wild.”

The number of animals that can be taken in depends on how quickly the animals can be nursed back to health.

She said: “One thing that we are finding is that the animals coming in are a lot more needy. We are getting a lot more skinny animals and obese animals and health issues are a lot more prolific.

“We are finding that therre is a lot of behavioural issues, where animals are extremely aggressive or excessively scared.”

For more information about the centre, call 0300 123 0744.