The founder of a charity which raises much-needed funds for sick and neglected animals living in rescue shelters has returned from a trip to Romania to visit one of the causes it helps.

Eastern Daily Press: Some of the rescued dogs at the Kola Kariola Rescue shelter. Picture: Courtesy of Andrea Gamby-Boulger.Some of the rescued dogs at the Kola Kariola Rescue shelter. Picture: Courtesy of Andrea Gamby-Boulger. (Image: Archant)

Andrea Gamby-Boulger, who set up Wetnose Animal Aid based in Kirby Cane with her late husband Gavin in 2000, visited Romania with members of the Paws 2 Rescue charity where they met husband and wife Marius and Elena, who have been rescuing dogs for the last four years.

Mrs Gamby-Boulger said: 'On the Sunday night we were there, some vandals broke into the kennels of Marius who owns the Kola Kariola Rescue shelter near Bucharest and tore down the back fence where the farm animals were. They released a few dogs which then attacked a goat which was trying to protect its baby and several animals were badly mauled.

'Early the next day we went straight to the city vets and saw another poor goat who had about 50 bites all over his back legs and back, he was shaking like a leaf in shock.

'We did manage to visit another shelter which was neutering dogs thanks to a campaign by Paws 2 Rescue and we also saw a horrible place known as a kill shelter where dogs are caught by a dog catcher and sent to a kennels to be killed 14 days later.

'We managed to get eight dogs out which will now be neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, wormed, and blood tested, then sent to UK and fostered to be lead trained and three puppies which were found by the side of the road in a box were bought in which we fed. Unless dogs, cats and horses are neutered the overpopulation of animals in Romania and other European countries will never go away.

'We are appealing to our wonderful Wetnose supporters and animal lovers of Norfolk and Suffolk to give a donation. We need £3,000 to install new CCTV cameras and alarms so this will never happen again. Poor Marius was heartbroken.'

Anyone who would like to support the cause can send a cheque to Wetnose Animal Aid Ltd, Newgate Lodge, Newgate, Kirby Cane, Norfolk, NR35 2PP, pop into the Wetnose Animal Aid shop in Hungate, Beccles, or visit or www.wetnoseanimalaid.com.