A PET fostering service has been set up in Manchester in a bid to stop the Christmas surge in unwanted animals.

Animal welfare experts fear the credit crunch could increase the number of abandoned animals as families struggle to pay household bills.

Now Manchester Dogs' Home is offering families the chance to foster a dog for up to a month before deciding whether to take on the responsibility of permanently looking after one. Manager Lisa Graham said prospective owners would get the chance to discover if they could cope.

She said: "We are seeing a rise in the number of dogs brought to us. We always ask people why they bring dogs in, and more and more are saying they've had to take on second jobs or the funds they had for dogs have run dry. We'd never advise anyone to give a dog as a present. Anyone who wants a dog but isn't sure if it will fit in with their lifestyle should take up our fostering scheme."

The dogs' stay will also be useful for staff at the home because they'll find out more about how well the animals could adapt to life outside the kennels. Last December, a record 342 dogs were abandoned and experts fear that the figure could be even higher this year.

The welfare centre in Harpurhey also sees a seasonal rise in unwanted pets every autumn, as puppies purchased last Christmas have grown into adults which are no longer wanted.

Founded in 1893 by a businessmen concerned about strays roaming the city, the home, which also has a base in Cheshire, now cares for 7,000 dogs every year and accepts some 20 dogs every day.

Anyone interested in the fostering scheme can log on to dogshome.net or call 0871 9181212