AN ANIMAL charity is desperately looking for people to take in unwanted and abandoned dogs in North Somerset.

AN ANIMAL charity is desperately looking for people to take in unwanted and abandoned dogs in North Somerset.

Dogs Friends takes in dogs and puppies which have been mistreated or abandoned and is appealing for foster carers in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead to help look after the animals until they are ready to be re-homed.

Paulette Teague, of Kingston Seymour near Clevedon, is taking in 13 puppies and two dogs this Christmas.

Paulette, aged 59, has been a foster carer for the charity for one year, but due to a lack of volunteers in North Somerset she will be inundated with animals this festive season.

Paulette, who has three dogs of her own, said: "We are looking for as many foster carers as we can get. We have new dogs needing help every day.

"Dogs Friends is a very small charity which doesn't have any kennels so we are desperately in need of people to look after the dogs until we can find them a home.

"Foster caring is so rewarding. All we ask of a carer is to look after the dog, love it and prepare it for its new home."

Three volunteers take in dogs for the charity in Clevedon, but nobody in Portishead or Nailsea has signed up to help.

The dogs are not allowed to be left alone for more than four hours, so volunteers with a lot of spare time are needed.

Paulette said: "Sometimes foster carers have lost their own dog and don't feel they can take another one on, but when they start looking after a new animal they often end up adopting it."

All medical bills are paid for by the charity and a number of businesses in Clevedon are sponsoring dogs to help foot the cost.

Anyone interested in helping Dogs Friends which stands for 'Fund-Raising, Information, Entertainment, for Needy Dogs', can call fosterers Lynne on 01275 873859 or Paulette on 01934 830651.

To find out more visit www.dogsfriendsonline.co.uk