The new year normally brings a rise in unwanted pets that were given as Christmas gifts, as many new pet owners face the reality of how much time, work and money is required to properly care for an animal. According to dog rescue and adoption charity Hope Rescue, January is always its busiest month as more people get into financial difficulty and struggle to pay vets bills. The south Wales-based charity is now experiencing a £20,000 monthly veterinary bill, in part brought about because of an explosion in unscrupulous breeders, alongside the traditional unwanted pets given as Christmas gifts that it cares for.