Dozens of unwanted animals have been rehomed as part of a long-running campaign run by two local newspapers in conjunction with the RSPCA.
Rescue Me has been running in Derbyshire weekly titles the Belper News and sister title the Ripley and Heanor News for around two years.
It features a different animal each week, with an appeal to readers to give the pet a new home.
In a feature in the titles this week the newspapers celebrated the campaign’s success over the last year with stories from readers who have given homes to the abandoned animals.
Around 50 unwanted cats, dogs, guinea pig, birds and other animals have been rescued with the News’ help.
Lucy Bell from the Derby branch of the RSPCA called the campaign a ‘roaring success’ and told the News that even if the pet that had featured in the paper had already been rehomed, it encouraged people to visit the centre with the possibility of adopting another animal.
Editor of the two titles Julie Crouch said: “The staff at the animal centre tell us that our campaign has certainly helped get people through the door.
“Even if an animal we have featured has been found a new home, people still look at, and very often, take on another pet. We are very pleased to support the good work of the RSPCA in this way.”
The campaign is set to continue this year.