A MIDLAND rescue centre is appealing for foster homes for its dogs as the recession has brought a rush of abandoned pets.

Water Orton Wonderdogs desperately needs local people to take in homeless pooches on a temporary basis.

There is such a shortage locally that it is now fostering its dogs to outside the Midlands.

Recently, the nearest foster home it could find one pooch, a corgi-terrier cross called Billy, was 40 miles away in Derby.

The charity said the recession had led to a big increase in the number of homeless dogs it was taking in.

It placed a plea for help on social networking site Dog Rescue Pages but the only response it received was from Derby advertising agency Mcconnells.

Kate Higgins, co-founder of the rescue centre, said: “Unfortunately no volunteers came forward and as the situation was getting desperate for Billy, the director of McConnells volunteered.

“The company rolled out the red carpet for their special visitor and since joining them, Billy has had his every whim tended to by graphic designer Sarah Chapman.”

The good news is that a couple of people are now interested in offering Billy a permanent home.

Kate said: “Unfortunately the funding situation together with the lack of foster homes means that we are limited in the number of dogs we are able to help. We are therefore urgently looking for new members, volunteers and foster homes to help us meet the current demand.”

The rescue centre is a non profit- making organisation and relies solely on donations and a small re-homing fee.