Lost dogs are not being claimed by their owners because of the recession, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has claimed.

In the past year the number of people reporting their dog lost has dropped by nearly 25 per cent - from 4,250 in 2008 to just 3,339 over the same period in 2009.

A spokesman for the home said: “One possible explanation for this is the continuing credit crunch, and that some dogs are not actually lost at all, but their owners are taking the decision to abandon them when finances get tight.

"If this is the case then the message from Battersea is loud and clear – this really isn’t good enough.”

The home said one dog was found tied up with two tins of food, while a puppy was found on the A3 near Chessington with a rope around his neck.

In terms of successful claims by owners, only 1,582 people have come forward so far in 2009, compared with 1,970 over the same period in 2008 - a drop of over 20 per cent - the home said.

Scott Craddock, director of operations at the home, said: “The recent drop in the number of dogs claimed suggests that some people are not taking responsibility for their pets.

“If, for whatever reason, an owner is no longer able to care for their dog then please don’t just abandon it onto the streets. That is not the answer.

“If someone really cannot cope with their dog in the current economic climate, the best thing to do is to visit Battersea’s website, where they will find some top tips to on how to look after their pets on a budget.

“Resources are tight everywhere, but local authority dog warden services and animal rescue centres, such as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, are under particular pressure.

"At this time, the additional burden of having to cope with animals abandoned randomly on the streets of London is stretching services to the limit and also makes the task of finding loving new homes for these dogs all the more complex and time consuming.”

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