LOVE was in the air for one North-East pet support organisation this Valentine's Day.

For County Durham-based North Pennine Ferret Welfare & Boarding, partnered with Hexham's Pets at Home store through Support Adoption For Pets’ Charity of the Year programme, received a surprise donation of £2,000 into its bank account over Valentine's weekend to help provide for pets in its care during the pandemic.

The donation was made by Support Adoption For Pets - the UK’s largest grant giving animal charity started by Pets At Home - to recognise the tireless efforts and hard work at North Pennine Ferret Welfare & Boarding since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

In total, the charity is giving away nearly £600,000 to rescue centres up and down the country, to help them look after the animals in their care as the financial hardship of Covid-19 continues.

To continually raise funds throughout the year, Support Adoption For Pets holds various fund-raising activities such as its summer fund-raiser and Santa Paws campaigns, encouraging donations online and in-store.

Support Adoption For Pets charity manager, Amy Angus, said: “Our message was simple over Valentine’s Day weekend and it’s one that we’re really passionate about as a charity. We’re here to share the love and surprising North Pennine Ferret Welfare & Boarding with a donation of £2,000 meant the world to them.

“The impact of Covid-19 is monumental and rescue centres continue to fall under real pressure. We’re reaching out to provide them with much needed financial help and to do our best to ensure that abandoned pets are given a second chance of happiness.

“Not only has the charity surprised rescues with nearly £600,000 but we have also increased our emergency grant programme by £400,00 so rescues can apply for funding during these difficult times.”

Support Adoption For Pets is a charity established by Pets at Home in 2006.