Our rescue and boarding animals had a warm, peaceful and settled festive period, made all the better by numerous donations of treats and toys.

Despite the special holiday atmosphere Lenny, the seven-year-old collie cross setter, has still not settled into kennels life.

The root of his anxiety is that he is very intelligent and he craves one to one attention and interaction - typical collie traits. When he doesn’t get this level of contact he shows his unhappiness by being overly energetic and unresponsive, which means he isn’t attracting potential adopters.

So, we have a special request for Lenny. We would like him to go to a temporary home where he can be settled and relaxed, and where his true personality can shine through.

His carers will need to be able to devote sufficient time to him, and keep in close contact with the kennels team so that he doesn’t miss out on potential adopters. Lenny has lived with another dog before, and so he does not necessarily have to be the only dog in his temporary home, but the ’chemistry’ between Lenny and the other dog(s) would need to be the right one.

If you would like to discuss Lenny and how you can help him on his journey, please contact Lyn or Diane in the kennels.

Over in the cattery we have several cats who have come to us because their owners died and there were no family members able to rehome them.

They have all been used to quiet lives and seem a little bemused at being in the cattery, although they are coping surprisingly well with their change in circumstances.

Lottie is an 11-year-old, very sweet, black and white shorthaired cat who has the most unusual amber eyes.

She’s fairly timid and so she will need a quiet new home where she can develop her confidence gradually, and she would probably settle well into being a house cat.

Cobweb is a reddish/brown striped tabby and, although she is 16, she’s in great health and is still very active, and so she would suit a new home where she can potter about a house and garden to her heart’s content, settling down in the evening for a cuddle and some attention.

Tiger, a similar coloured female tabby, also 16, is super friendly and behaves more like a dog.

She may well think she actually is a dog because she has lived with them in the past and has probably picked up a lot of their behaviours.

Our rescue animals have such different and interesting personalities, and it’s easy to see why having a pet can enrich the life of an owner in so many ways.

The health benefits of owning a companion animal are scientifically proven. Academic studies demonstrate that dog owners over the age of 65 have, on average, the activity levels of those 10 years younger and display lower levels of anxiety or depression.

Cats have also been proven to enhance the lives of their owners, particularly those who might otherwise have limited interaction with other people.

They provide companionship, a daily routine, and hours of entertainment - even the most dignified cat will have his moment of madness every day, rushing around like a lunatic.

An owner’s advancing years should not deter them from the rewards of pet ownership, and the ManxSPCA will always be there to help should an owner sadly die before their pet

To provide further peace of mind the society has a special ’pet guardian’ scheme whereby owners can register their pets, free of charge, and leave instructions about their animals’ requirements and their likes and dislikes. Please contact Juana for further information about the scheme.