Heartbroken Bangor woman urges people to adopt a rescue pet after death of dog

A Bangor woman left devastated by the death of her dog is encouraging others to rescue a pet.

Pet-lover Kelly Meharry rescued Labrador Ben around three years ago and was left heartbroken when he passed away in June.

But she refused to be downbeat and organised a raffle with local businesses in North Down to raise more than £1,250 to mark 'Benny Boy's' birthday.

Now the funds have been donated to The Barn Animal Rescue in Newtownards.

Ben with his sister Molly just a week before he passed away (Kelly Meharry)

Kelly told Belfast Live : "Ben was extra special as he was just so happy to have found a forever home with me. The fact I only had him for three and a half years - I just think, I didn't have him his whole life but he knew how much I adored him.

"He was a lot older than we thought, and when he did pass it was very sudden.

"If I can pull together a raffle, anybody can. It's a great thing to do in your dog's memory - it's more than a reason to just do it and help."

Rescue dogs Jill and Molly with raffle prizes to mark Ben's birthday (Kelly Meharry)

Kelly has rescued two other golden Labradors, Molly and Jill, who shares Ben's birthday.

Now the dog lover is encouraging the public to consider rescuing a dog instead of getting a puppy, as it gives them a second chance at life.

She added: "All Ben wanted was love and from the minute we got him, it was so clear that was what he wanted. Rescue dogs crave a loving home.

"The fact that I didn't really know his background.... I did know he was the most loyal boy in the world. That just proves with all of that passing about and wherever he lived all those years before me, he was so trusting and loyal to me."

Jill and Molly at The Barn Animal Rescue in Newtownards (Kelly Meharry)

She was the fourth person to take Ben on - but has no regrets. And she wants others thinking about it to go for it.

"Give rescue dogs a chance," she said.

"If others heard he had been in three or four different homes before me, they'd think he must have been a bad dog.

"That is not the case - it could have been a case that family circumstances have changed.

"The bond I had with him was unbelievable. He just had to look at me and I knew how happy he was.

"The work The Barn do really is amazing and they are such lovely people so it's so important to help out."

The Barn operates a ‘no kill’ policy and say they will not put to sleep a healthy animal.

Find out more about The Barn here.