MEMBERS of a garrison town’s veterinary practice are raising money for a charity helping reunite military veterans with dogs they have adopted while deployed overseas.

Staff at Vets4Pets in Catterick Garrison are embarking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge this Saturday in what is expected to be sweltering temperatures.

They will be tackling the 24 mile trail across Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in North Yorkshire to raise money for Nowzad.

The charity which brings back stray cats or dogs from war zones who may have provided a lifeline to a soldier on active service abroad.

The charity arranges for the dogs or cats to get to the safety of a rescue centre, where they can ensure the animals are provided with shelter, vaccinations and medical attention, as well as the necessary checks and paperwork to get the pet to their adopted owner overseas.

It has rescued cats and dogs from Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine and Libya and so far reunited more than 900 animals with military personnel who have adopted them while on the frontline.

Dr Jo Barker, who jointly owns Vets4Pets in Catterick Garrison, said: “Nowzad is a charity relatively close to our hearts.

“They rescue dogs from places like Kabul in Afghanistan and bring them back for soldiers so they can go to a forever home.

“Some soldiers will be feeding some street dogs for six months, then they leave and these dogs don’t get fed any more.

“I had one soldier come in here saying he had been feeding dogs just over the fence at the compound where he was based. Before they left it was going to be drowned because there was nobody left to feed it.”

She added: “We’re heavily involved with the forces community; we have a lot of dogs that come in here from places like Cyprus where families have been deployed and from other army bases around the world; it’s a very cosmopolitan dog society here.”

She said they understood the importance of the link which many military personnel often formed with adopted pets.

“That bond that they have with a dog can help keep them going in a warzone and prevent someone getting depressed,” said Dr Barker.

“We also have a lot of clients who have been injured in the military and you know those dogs are keeping them going.”

She said it cost in the region of about £4,000 to get a single rescue dog vaccinated, housed in kennels and then sent overseas.

The vets and other staff are hoping to raise some of that money with their Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday.

All nine members of the practice will be taking part in the walk and a locum vet and nurse have been called in to cover the practice in their absence.

To donate visit the page: justgiving.com/fundraising/catterickgarrisonv4p

More information on the charity Nowzad can be found online at; nowzad.com