A CHARITY which helps rehome stray and unwanted dogs in the Pendle and Burnley areas is moving to larger headquarters.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson will be cutting the ribbon at Pendle Dogs in Need’s new base in Colne on Saturday, July 18.

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The charity was set up just over two years ago by deputy headteacher Sharon Ashley and private nurse Paula Knowles who realised there was a need to help strays in the area. Since then they have helped rehome more than 300 dogs.

Now they have decided to shut their base in Nelson and move into larger offices in Boundary Buildings, Burnley Road.

Sharon, who works at Primet Primary School in Colne, said they have a team of 30 dedicated volunteers and also more than a dozen foster carers for the dogs.

As both Paula and Sharon work full-time, the charity is a real labour of love.

Sharon, who has six dogs of her own and one foster dog, said: “There’s a massive problem with stray dogs in the area. There’s a release fee to pay if your dog has been found and people can’t always afford it. A lot of dogs are getting dumped or not wanted through relationship breakdowns, we are getting calls all the time.”

The charity tries to rehome all dogs and charges an adoption fee, although it only survives through fundraising. In any one month the vets’ bills can be as high as £4,000 At the official opening at 11am there will also be a coffee morning until 4pm, free micro-chipping and a doggy food bank.

“We call it the Hub, it’s a place for people to pop in and chat, a drop-in centre,” said Sharon.

The team are now looking for more volunteers to join their fundraising team and also dog foster homes, particularly where there aren’t any other pets or children. If you can help, the Hub is open Monday 10-12.30, Tuesday 6-8pm and 1-4pm on Wednesday and Saturdays.

Go to www.pendledogsinneed.co.uk.