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.