A WOMAN with a huge heart who put others first even during a long battle with illness, has passed away.

Angela Taylor, from Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor, lost her three year fight with ovarian cancer on Sunday, aged 45.

Mrs Taylor, known to most as Angie, served with the Army for seven years.

She met husband of 23 years, Roy, in the Forces, and the couple were posted in Northern Ireland.

In 1989 she left the Army as a corporal but stayed in Northern Ireland working for the Ministry of Defence until 1992.

The couple then moved to Spennymoor and Mrs Taylor became a residential care officer, helping people such as secure hospital patients reintegrate into society.

While working in social services the animal-lover started to help needy dogs she witnessed roaming the streets or being abused.

She contacted animal charities for support and Clarissa Baldwin, chief executive of the Dogs Trust, answered her plea and helped her have many dogs neutered to prevent unwanted puppies being born.

In 20 years Mrs Taylor worked with many animal charities raising funds and voluntarily rescuing abandoned dogs, particularly her favourite greyhound and lurcher breeds.

Mr Taylor said: "Hundreds of dogs must have been helped by her over the years, they always came first.

"She loved people and animals, it was her caring nature to put others first even until the last week she went into hospital.

"People knew her as the lurcher lady and would call to say they didn’t want their dog anymore, she never turned them away."

The couple paid for the dogs to stay in boarding kennels while searching for a suitable new owner, often appealing through The Northern Echo.

Linda Forsyth, of Deerness Boarding Kennels and Stray Action for Dogs, said she was inspiring and irreplaceable.

She added: "Her work and passion was phenomenal, she made us believe it was worth fighting for the animals and was only content when she knew a dog was in a good home.

"She was held in the highest regard by everyone and we plan to have a memorial bench in tribute to her."

Mrs Taylor’s mother, Pauline Shaw, said: "She will always be remembered as strong, straight forward and loving."

Mrs Taylor’s funeral will be at St Paul’s Church, Spennymoor, on Tuesday, 2.40pm.

Mourners are asked to wear pink- Mrs Taylor’s favourite colour and representative of her bright personality.