A SHELTER for stray dogs is trying to raise £250,000 as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

Stray Aid, based in Coxhoe, in County Durham, is hoping the appeal will ensure the long-term future of the charity by helping it buy its premises.

The charity, which was started ten years ago by Sue and John Bielby, rehomes dogs across County Durham, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

Mrs Bielby, a vet, said: “At the time it was the norm for stray dogs to be destroyed after seven days so dogs were being destroyed for no good reason.

“I’m a vet so I was trying to help sick and injured animals and seeing perfectly healthy dogs being destroyed. We didn’t set out with a plan, just with the idea that this wasn’t acceptable.

“We found it was a very worthwhile thing we were doing and we got more and more dogs coming in so we needed more and more kennels. Over ten years we have met some amazing dogs.”

The charity helps 15,000 dogs a year and relies on a team of around 50 volunteers to walk and keep them clean.

This year it is trying to raise £250,000 to secure the future of the charity by buying the site in Coxhoe and rebuilding the block of kennels.

“Ten years on we want to future-proof ourselves to make sure it’s still here,” added Mrs Bielby. “We won’t be around forever but we want Stray Aid to be around forever and make sure we can protect dogs.

“We’ve gone from having 10 kennels to having 100 now but it’s just a relief we have been able to help those dogs in need. That’s the main thing and we’re very proud of what we have achieved.”

So far they have raised £70,000 through donations, its annual dog show and doing sponsored walks, supermarket collections and other charity events.

Mr Bielby said: “If we can achieve our goal it will put Stray Aid into a much stronger position to obtain the additional funding we need to transform Stray Aid into a more modern facility, which should ensure that the charity will inspire the local community, including business groups as well as individuals and the charity’s staff and volunteers, to continue to support our worthy campaign.”

To donate visit www.strayaid.org.uk.