A LOCAL charity founder has been on a mission to help street dogs in poverty-stricken Sri Lanka.

In 2019, Alena Warburton visited Sri Lanka on her honeymoon and was shocked by the number of injured and sick dogs on the streets – it was from this moment that she vowed to make a difference.

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Unable to help physically due to the pandemic, Mrs Warburton founded Lucas Helps Dogs – named after her late pet – and began making and selling handmade collars to fund the treatment of sick animals.

With travelling restrictions easing away Mrs Warburton, from Sturminster Newton, finally returned to the country to volunteer for nearly two months.

Accountant Mrs Warburton said: “It was amazing to be back in Sri Lanka and I just wanted to get stuck in straight away helping these inspiring dogs. There are so many on the streets who are injured from vehicles, suffer cancers and awful skin diseases.”

Before their trip, Mrs Warburton and her fellow charity trustees spent months collecting donations and buying medications, leads, collars and harnesses which are difficult to get in Sri Lanka and could be used by the charities there.

On the trip the group spent time volunteering at dog rescue sanctuaries and through Lucas Helps Dogs also funded and carried out the spay, neuter and rabies vaccination of more than 50 street dogs.

Mrs Warburton added: “During the pandemic we’ve tried to help as much as possible by paying for rescue places and sending collars and vital items to Sri Lanka but it really feels good to have boots – or flip flops - on the ground and be hands on.

“The idea behind making collars came after seeing so many dogs with embedded chains and rope in their neck. Not many are owned over there but the ones who are often don’t have a proper collar which leads to injury.”

Lucas Helps Dogs is now working to raise funds to spay and neuter dogs in the tourist town of Ella.

Mrs Warburton said: “All proceeds from collars, leads and our other products go directly to Sri Lankan street dogs, please consider donating.”

Items are available to order online or buy at a pop-up shop at The Stur of the Moment on Bath Road from May 1-31.