In recent times the organisation has struggled to find carers to temporarily take in dogs abandoned to the local pound, forcing the organisation to halt its intake of animals in need.

“We just haven’t got the carers,” she said on Tuesday.

“It breaks your heart when you have to leave them behind.”

Despite the dwindling number of volunteers Ms Rebetzke said the need for the Needy Paws service had not abated, with abandoned dogs likely to continue to be an issue until people became better educated.

“At the end of the day that is what it comes down to,” she said.

“People need to be smart about de-sexing their animals.”

The dedicated volunteer said the burden of caring for abandoned animals was easily offset by the rewards.

“Dogs can tell you have rescued them,” Ms Rebetzke said.

“They are more faithful.

“Some of the conditions they come to us in, you wouldn’t believe it, one dog took a week just to let me pat him.

“He was adopted by a lady and to look at him now you wouldn’t know he had such a rough start.”

Carers need only a secure yard to help out, with Needy Paws donating what it can to offset the costs of homing a pet. “Anyone can do it, as long as you have a secure yard and a big heart,” Ms Rebetzke said.