WILLIAM and Harry (pictured) have a sorry tail to tell.

For the past four months the cats have been staying at a local cattery because nobody has come forward to offer them a new home.

Petline organiser Chris Butterworth says finding similar stories at other animal sanctuaries serving Trafford doesn't take much detective work.

All the centres are bursting at the seams with feline guests and Chris warns that if a moggy is in a pen for a prolonged length of time it could suffer depression.

"They start getting symptoms of depression and they don't look very good when people go in. They just sit there and look straight ahead", she says.

Also, much to the frustration of local animal welfare workers, the message to have animals fitted with some form of identification is being ignored by many pet owners.

This makes it impossible for workers to know which creatures are genuinely lost.

Anyone interested in offering William or Harry or any of their four legged friends a home should contact Altrincham RSPCA on 929 7266.

Alternatively, call the Peggy Henderson Animal Sanctuary on 973 5318, Trafford Cats Protection on 969 0331.

On a different note, 11 cats and nine dogs have been re-united with their relieved owners.

Lost

* TANYA: a black and tan female Alsatian type dog with white chest and paws. Went missing in the Royle Green Road area of Northenden on September 28. Call 945 6139.

* ERIC: a black neutered male cat wearing a red collar. Went missing in the Gerrard Avenue area of Timperley on September 28. New to the area and could be heading for his old home in Hale. Call 286 1089.

* RAINBOW: a small, green love bird with a red beak and face and a yellow throat. Went missing in the Northern Moor area on September 15. Call 614 0216.

* EDNA: a 12 year old, black and white Felix type cat wearing a purple collar with diamante studs. She went missing in the Princess Road area of Urmston on October 1. Call 748 4179.

* ATOM: a large, ginger, neutered male cat wearing a white reflective collar. Went missing in the Wythenshawe Road area of Northern Moor on October 1. Call 998 3702.

* FOUR CANARIES: one orange coloured and male, three pale/pinky peach coloured. Went missing in the Park Road area of Timperley on October 4. Call 962 2714.

* JAFFA: an 11 month old, ginger and white male cat wearing a luminous yellow collar. Went missing in the Bradfield Road area of Urmston on October 3. Call 865 0151.

* OSWALD: a medium sized black and brown striped tabby cat, not seen since September 29. Please check your shed/greenhouse/garage. Call 747 8639.

Using Petline

If you would like to put a pet on the register or have any news about animals but do not wish to speak directly to the owners, call Chris Butterworth on 902 0483, between 9am and 9pm. If she is not around, keep trying.

If you would like a picture of a lost pet to accompany a written appeal, send it to Rick Bowen, SAM, 25 Ashton Lane, Sale, M33 6TP - but speak to Chris at Petline first.