CARING Pat Senior is spending the festive period doing what she does best — looking after neglected, terminally ill and injured dogs.

Mrs Senior has run the charity Angels With Furry Coats from her Blackrod home for the past 36 years.

The 65-year-old, of Whitehall Lane, said many of the animals she looks after have been beaten and starved and some, tragically, do not survive.

But in most cases, she has transformed them from being, in her words, 'practically dead', to full health, by feeding them, neutering them, getting them vaccinated and generally taking care of them.

After the dogs have recovered, they are either sent to a new owner or, if they are either too old or have nowhere to go, stay at Mrs Senior's house.

Mrs Senior makes no pretences about her job — it can, at times, be heartbreaking.

But the rewarding element of the role, she says, is what makes it all worth while.

She said: "You see some dogs and you know you need a miracle for them to survive. At first, it's dread and fear.

"But when you work hard to help a dog and you see a bit of life coming out of it's eyes, you get such an amazing buzz. It's why I do the job — I love what I do."

Mrs Senior is very busy and currently houses 24 dogs, including a lurcher, greyhound, west highland white terrier and a retriever cross.

She is not just known for her charitable side — she served as town mayor of Blackrod and also writes children's books and sings in her spare time.

To find out more about Angels With Furry Coats, visit their Facebook page.

The charity is always on the lookout for fresh funding. You can also donate by emailing angelswithfurrycoats@virginmedia.com or calling 01204 830127.