AN ANIMAL rescue centre received a surprise donation over Valentine's weekend to help 'share the love' and care for pets during the pandemic.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue at Church Knowle received a surprise £2,000 donation from Support Adoption For Pets over the weekend in recognition of the work the centre has done since the pandemic began.

The centre is partnered with Dorchester Pets at Home store through Support Adoption For Pets' charity of the year programme, and through this has received a total of £2,451.45 in 2020.

In total, Support Adoption For Pets, the UK's largest grant giving animal charity, is giving away nearly £600,000 to rescue centres up and down the country to help them look after animals in their care as the financial hardship of the pandemic continues.

Across its three rehoming centres in Dorset and Devon, Margaret Green cares for more than 1,200 animals each year.

The Church Knowle rehoming centre near Wareham is home to a range of animals. including cats, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and ducks, and staff have been working to take care of them all throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Amy Angus, manager at Support Adoption For Pets, said: "Our message was simple over Valentine's Day weekend and it's one that we're really passionate about as a charity.

"We're here to share the love and surprising Margaret Green Animal Rescue Church Knowle with a donation of £2,000 meant the world to them.

"The impact of Covid-19 is monumental and rescue centres continue to fall under real pressure.

"We're reaching out to provide them with much needed financial help and to do our best to ensure that abandoned pets are given a second chance of happiness.

"Not only has the charity surprised rescues with nearly £600,000 but we have also increased our emergency grant programme by £400,000 so rescues can apply for funding during these difficult times."

Support Adoption For Pets was established by Pets at Home in 2006 and has helped more than 1,000 rehoming centres and animal welfare organisations across the UK.

For more information about Margaret Green Animal Rescue, visit www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk/