Three Counties Dog Rescue in Bourne receives a donation from the Nene and Welland Oddfellows

A friendship group has raised thousands of pounds to help an animal charity pay its vet bills.

Members of the Nene and Welland Oddfellows donated £3,250 to the Three Counties Dog Rescue in Bourne.

The society’s outgoing chairperson Janice Bedford had nominated the charity during her year in office.

She said: “Without them many of these poor animals would not get the care and attention they need when they are in the most desperate circumstances through no fault of their own.”

The money was raised by the group’s 400 members though events such as raffles and fundraising stalls at local events. Janice’s husband Barry, who is the incoming chairperson, raised £700 fro a sponsored slim.

A cheque was presented to Gyll Mauchlin from Three Counties Dog Rescue. She said: “We are very grateful to Nene and Welland Oddfellows for its donation. It will assist towards meeting our vet bills which run to around £180,000 a year.”

The centre has two pugs which need surgery to help their breathing and has also taken in a number of cats which had nowhere else to go.