STAN the eleven-year-old samoyed, Kevin the six-year-old akita cross and Wesley the former racing greyhound will be spending Christmas in kennels.

But the charity that saved them is hoping this will be their last Christmas without a home as they urge people to consider looking at taking in a rescue dog in the new year.

Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs (SYD) works with vets, police social services and stray kennels to rescue canines which could otherwise be put to sleep.

Some dogs are kept in kennels at West Tanfield near Bedale and others are fostered while the charity works to rehabilitate the dogs and try and find them a new home.

SYD’s Julie Hart said: “Tis the season to be jolly so the carol goes and that is the dream of our rescue dogs and what we want for them.

“Ours is a volunteer-led charity, and we’re so grateful for all the support we get. We just want people this Christmas to think about offering a dog a home, not for this Christmas but maybe over the next year. “We rehomed 21 dogs in 2019, many come because their owners have died, or they just can’t look after them anymore, or they have been abandoned it is heartbreaking.

“Our aim is that no healthy dog should ever be put to sleep.

“Over Christmas our dogs will be well looked after, there will be lots of treats and cuddles, but it’s not the same as having a home, that’s what we really want for them.

“We are constantly full to bursting and hope eventually to have our own kennels because the need is so great.

“One of our major successes this year was to find a home for Millie, the Jack Russell Terrier who had been in rescue for three years, she’s spending Christmas 2019 with her new mum.

“We are really grateful for all the support we get, our recent Christmas Fair made £1,975 - that money helps us to keep going.”

For general information about Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs, visit their website where details of all the dogs needing homes can be also be found.

Visit sydrescue.org.uk.