A DOG rescue charity has launched a £250,000 appeal to try and buy a sanctuary which closed down to help them get ready for an expected rush of pandemic puppies.

Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs (SYD) say they want to take over the former Jerry Green centre at Catton, Thirsk which closed this summer.

The site is for sale through informal tender by mid-November, with a starting price of about £300,000.

The charity already has pledges and savings but needs to raise the rest and time is running out for them.

SYD is committed to ensuring no healthy dog is put down, but currently works from rented kennels near Masham.

Organiser Julie Hart said the charity wants to raise enough to buy the whole premises to give them room to expand.

She added: “The rescue centre sadly shut down in July after 46 years at Catton.

"I know plenty of our supporters and volunteers have been helpers and donators over the years.

“This would ideally be the next step for Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs.

“We need that extra space and security for the animals.

"At the moment we haven’t been overwhelmed by dogs but we think it is the calm before the storm.

“We are waiting for the first wave of pandemic puppies to arrive, and they will come as naughty teenagers.

“People will go back to work and not have time for the puppies and dogs they took on during the pandemic.

"We can see that is going to be happening more and more and we’re not the only dog rescue charity to believe that.”

Julie said they already have Billy, a young dog whose owner got a full time job after the first wave of the pandemic and couldn’t look after him anymore.

She added: “We work really hard to ensure no healthy dog is put to sleep. We have found forever homes for many, many dogs who could have died and we’re determined to carry on the work.

"We believe all dogs deserve a second chance in life and having a centre like this would make a huge difference to what we can do.”

The charity is setting up a go fund me page online and in the meantime donations and pledges of money can be given through the website sydrescue.org.uk or via their Facebook page.