Animals in Distress held a collection day last week, raising £345.52 to help care for pets who lose their home in South Devon and to give them the life they deserve.

On Tuesday, December 12, representatives from the charity were collecting money in the foyer of Tesco in Kingsbridge.

Sue Barnwell from Kingsbridge was there with Lyra her rehomed greyhound, Esme Chamberlain from Animals in Distress with Tia and Ceri Jayes from Kingsbridge with Enya a rehomed Saluki. Jac Cleaves from Morleigh and Mike Jayes also gave time to help.

As well as raising money, several queries were also made from people interested in offering a forever home to a pet in the new year.

In fact, when Esme arrived back at the charity premises at Ipplepen later that afternoon she had a phone call from someone who was interested in adopting the eight-year-old frise bitch, Tia.

In 2016, Animals in Distress rehomed 172 dogs, 297 cats, 65 guinea pigs and 79 rabbits. The minimum cost of a dog stay is £285 and for a cat stay, £247.

The charity are grateful to the kindness of shoppers who made it such a busy and productive day.

If any business or retail outlet in the area would be kind enough to hold a collecting can for the charity then please call Esme on 01803 812121 or Ceri Jayes on 01548 856252.