THERE are plenty of happy hounds at Stokenchurch Dog Rescue, after a cash boost to improve the centre.

The charity won a £3,677 grant from Pedigree to help them make improvements to their rehoming centre and help give their dogs the best chance of finding a happy home.

Stokenchurch Dog Rescue, home to typically 35 rescue dogs per month, is using the grant to go towards funding a much needed enrichment garden, which will help rescued dogs on their way to their forever homes.

The grant comes from Pedigree Brighter Futures, an initiative that assists rehoming centres by providing much needed grants and food, and also works to raise awareness of the UK’s issue of dog abandonment.

Lesley Peel, SDR trustee, responsible for grant applications said: "We are full of ideas for a garden that will enrich the lives of our rescue dogs by stimulating their senses of touch, smell, sound, taste and sight and now we have the funds to turn it into reality.

"We get a wide range of dogs that come to us in desperate need of our help. By encouraging natural exploration, the garden will build back the confidence in dogs that have suffered cruelty and neglect. This is especially important for those of our dogs that may not be adopted in the short term; dogs like Willow, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, who we are delighted to say is enjoying her forever home after nine months with us."