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Roads to avoid as people travel for a bank holiday weekend away
It is the last long weekend before the summer holidays and many people will be going away
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American on Interpol’s wanted list found during routine check in France
He is accused of sexually assaulting a student at a Pennsylvania college in 2013
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EXPLAINED: Why France has declared state of emergency in New Caledonia
Three people have been killed in riots since the start of the week
8000 pets 'abandoned in France this summer'
Société protectrice des animaux centres have been inundated ahead of holiday season, president says
More than 8,000 pets have been abandoned at rescue centres across France this summer, the Société protectrice des animaux (SPA) has said.
The organisation's president, Jacques-Charles Fombonne told RTL that its 56 shelters had taken in 8,053 animals.
Two-thirds of the abandoned pets were cats, he said.
Read more: France record for abandoned pets, shows shock campaign
Mr Fombonne said that relatively new owners were the biggest culprits, dumping their pets when they realise the added expense and trouble of taking a holiday.
A cross-party group of 240 politicians announced in June that they would table a bill to end the 'massive abandonment' of animals during the summer holidays. It would tighten up a 1999 law, in which people who abandon animals can face jail terms of up to two years and fines of €30,000, that had not had the necessary effect, they said.
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