The New Year saw St Mawes Dog Walker Emma Hayman launch an appeal for donations in support of the RSPCA Cornwall Branch.

‘Until recently I had no idea that the RSPCA Cornwall Branch in St Columb is a separately registered charity to the RSPCA, meaning that they are almost entirely self-funded’ said Emma, ‘they rely heavily on receipt of their own donations and fund raising to cover the enormous costs involved in housing, feeding and caring for the large numbers of animals in their care.’

Having noticed a social media post by the charity in the autumn appealing for winter bedding, Emma reached out through her Dog Walking business, The K9 Capers Co., to the local community on the Roseland.

‘The response has been incredible – people have been enormously generous, and with wonderful support from our good friend Becky Maynard in Falmouth, our appeal extended across the Carrick Roads via a town Community Facebook page. We received more donations than we could ever have hoped for. We want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone!’

Donations delivered to the centre on Sunday included 83 towels and blankets, 79 toys, 6 dog crates, and masses of beds, food, treats, leads, harnesses, collars and bowls.

Emma, Mark and Becky are continuing to collect donations, and will deliver to the centre again at Easter.

If you can offer a permanent or much needed foster home to an animal, please get in touch with the RSPCA Cornwall Branch on 01637 881455.

Financial donations can be made via their JustGiving Page www.justgiving.com/rspcacornwall and physical donations of bedding, food etc, dropped to their branch at The Venton Animal Centre, Quoit, St Columb, TR9 6JS. The K9 Capers Co. can be contacted via their website thek9capersco.co.uk or social media @thek9capersco.