A CAT with no ears and another with one eye are just two of the scores of animals looking for new homes.
People will be able to meet the 60 cats and 23 dogs that need to be rehomed at Ashbourne Animal Welfare this weekend.
Among them is Moses the cat, who has had both his ears cut off. He was taken in by the centre after he was left in a basket with a note from his owner saying he was unable to care for him any longer.
Dan Mart, kennel assistant at the centre, said: "When the vets examined Moses they found he had cancer in his ears and so they had to remove them. He's fine now, although I think he's deaf."
Jerry, who only has one eye, was left in the garden by his owners when they moved house.
There is also Arrow, a two-and-a-half year-old Saluki lurcher, who was brought to the centre by people who took him in after travellers no longer wanted him.
And Billy, a Parson's Jack Russell, was handed in by his owner who said he felt it was unfair leaving him alone while he was at work all day.
Dan said: "Billy is a lively little chap – he loves to play.
"Cat Jorgie, who's six, was handed in because his owners were moving into a flat and they weren't allowed cats. He's a really nice gentle cat."
And Tye, a collie cross lurcher, came to the centre for the same reason as Jorgie.
"He's quite young, quite lively but quite trainable and good-natured," said Dan.
Eight-year-old Max, who was a rescue dog as a puppy, has once again not got a home because his owners could no longer afford to keep him.
The open weekend at The Ark, in Wyaston Road, Ashbourne, will run from 11am until 4pm both tomorrow and on Sunday. At the free event there will be bric-a-brac on sale, festive food and new gifts, including Christmas cards and the Ark 2014 Calendar. For more information call 01335 300494.
