Pair of kittens needing homes!

Donation required and homes must be prepared to be visited by a Cat Protection Representative.

Contact Marion on 01388 776549 or email marion@catrescuers.com

Roly, a playful, larger-than-life hound, is looking for a home.

Deerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, is looking after the RSPCA dog.

Roly is a medium-sized brindle crossbreed. Anyone able to give him a home must be able to indulge his love of playing and walks.

Roly is 14 months old and has been at the kennels for more than two months, after his owners had to give him up because of work commitments.

Anyone who can help is asked to ring Deerness Kennels on 0191-3780439.

Two exotic reptiles found yards from each other in a North-East park will go on display this weekend, in a bid to find their owners - or find them new homes.

Police found a 5ft Columbian rainbow boa constrictor in Fatfield, Washington, Wearside, on May 7, just days after finding a similar snake near the village's James Steel Park. Both have been looked after by staff at the Reptile Trust in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham.

The pair will be on display at Dobbies Garden World, Birtley, on Saturday and Sunday between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

Trust director Peter Heathcote said: "If we have no success in tracing their prior keepers, then anyone who thinks they might be able to offer them a new home is asked to come along and talk to us about their needs."

Volunteers from the charity will be able to advise people on the correct care of reptiles and how to find organisations to look after animals that are no longer wanted.

Plans for the trust's new 22-acre sanctuary in Tow Law, in Weardale, will also be on display.

For further details, contact (01207) 271766.

Life has not been good to some of the region's unluckiest dogs.

All have been involved in accidents and are recovering in a kennel.

Lady has only three legs, Henry has arthritis, Alf has cataracts in both eyes and Katy is recovering from being hit by a car.

The former strays are recovering at the National Canine Defence League's sanctuary at Sadberge, near Darlington, and three are in need of foster homes to help them recover before permanent owners can be found.

Henry, an eight-year-old rottweiler, was hit by a car and has osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia.

Two-year-old Katy, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was also hit by traffic before being brought in as a stray.

Alf, an eight-year-old German shepherd, has cataracts in both eyes and is being treated for a gastric infection.

In the short-term Alf, Katy and Henry need dedicated foster homes where they can be cared for. All vets' bills will paid by the league.

Lady, a German shepherd-collie cross, is in need of a permanent home after recovering from a road accident after which a leg was amputated.

Two-year-old Peggy, which also had a leg amputated, needs a foster home because there is no room at the kennels.

For more information about foster care or any of the dogs, contact the league on (01325) 333114.

An animal rescue charity has been inundated with abandoned greyhounds which need a home.

One of the team of volunteers at The Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara), Pat Smith, of Newby, near Stokesley, has 14 of the dogs and has another two to come.

Most of the animals have been racing dogs and some originally cost thousands of pounds. However once they have been injured or lost some pace many are abandoned.

One of the dogs, Anna, pictured, was given to Pat Smith from another animal rescue centre and has clearly been badly abused in her past.

Ms Smith said: "She was a bit tetchy at first but her behaviour has improved a lot. She wants to be loved and cuddles up to anything. The other day she even cuddled up to an empty milk carton. Something bad has happened to her, but we don't know what.

"Greyhounds are hard to re-home, but that's because people don't know just how lovely and gentle an animal they are. You find that once someone has got to know a greyhound they don't want anything else."

Ms Smith said that she had eight greyhounds which could not be homed elsewhere but the others were suitable as loving pets. Anyone interested in the greyhounds, or any of Sara's other abandoned animals, can call (01287) 201005 between 9am and 1pm on weekdays.

Jacob, an unusual breed of cat, needs a new home.

The Devon Rex, who has a very short coat, needs loving owners who can give him plenty of attention.

The three-year-old, is being cared for by a foster family in Darlington, but new owners are being sought who can give him constant attention.

Jacob cannot cope with young children or other pets and would benefit from a home in a quiet area.

Anyone who would like to adopt him is asked to call Willow Cat Shelter, a luxury cattery where the animals are given apartments with televisions, on 0191-536 6221.