AN ANIMAL shelter is desperately looking for volunteers to help transform its new premises into a working community shop in Basingstoke.

As previously reported, Helping Dogs and Cats is currently based at Hart House on Priestly Road, but it has outgrown its home and was looking for a larger space to move into.

The community interest company (CIC) runs a foodbank, microchipping service, and second-hand and affordable clothing and household items.

Alongside the shop, the shelter also rescues and rehabilitates dogs and cats in its care.

READ MORE: Helping Dogs and Cats charity to open shop and office in Basingstoke

Founded by Kirsty Wrightson, the company had been offered premises in a Basingstoke shopping centre and was desperately looking to raise funds to pay six-month rent, along with vet bills. 

Kirsty has now told the Gazette that due to a higher demand, the CIC has been forced to find somewhere else and will be moving to 4, Feathers Lane in the next few months. 

She has said that unfortunately the new site is in poor condition and the charity is now in desperate need of volunteers to help get the shop in shape which needs painting, shelving made and flooring sorted.

She said: "We are in desperate need get members of the public to come and help because the new shop is in a bad way and we need help.

"I think that they would be doing a good thing to help us and it means that we can then continue to keep helping the community and the animals."

The news comes after an increasing need for animal care, as of August 15 the centre had 61 cats and nine dogs.

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Kirsty continued: "We will have more space in the new place as at the moment we are in a serviced office building so we will be able to make the shop more inviting so people can actually see what we are doing."

The centre is more than just a place to rehome cats and dogs but also provides other services including care packages and dog walking services for those who can not get help anywhere else. 

More about Helping Dogs and Cats UK can be found at helpingdogsandcatsuk.org.