The animal - friendly face of finance 10 / 03 / 2011

LEEK United's ‘friendlier face of finance' has become the animal-friendly face of finance...

The Society's Ashbourne branch has taken on the sponsorship of a dog and two cats at the town's animal welfare rescue centre, The Ark*.

Tasha the lurcher and cats Tammy and Brock touched the hearts of Branch Manager Julie Martin and her staff, who have donated money towards their care and upkeep for the next 12 months.

"The Society is always looking to help community-based good causes in its local branch areas," explained Julie.

"Our new customer adviser, Sarah Lunn, has already visited The Ark and seen for herself the work done there, so we went onto the website and decided which animals we wanted to sponsor."

Tasha was brought to The Ark in 2006 as a stray, while Tammy, a shy tabby/white cat not used to being handled, had been resident there for two years, and has recently made friends with Brock, another shy cat looking for a new home.

Shelter manager Barbara Robson said: "At any one time, we can have up to 20 dogs and 30 to 40 cats in residence. Ultimately, we always look to rehome these animals but for various reasons that's not always possible, which is where sponsorship comes in. We're very grateful to Leek United for their involvement."

* Set up in 1988, Ashbourne Animal Welfare is a registered charity dedicated to the rescue and re-homing of stray and unwanted cats and dogs, and operates from its purpose-built rescue centre in Wyaston Road, Ashbourne. All its ‘residents' have comfortable accommodation, receive the best of care and stay as long as is necessary to find a loving new home.