A KENNEL that cares for homeless cats and dogs now has its own vet.

Sue Bielby, who has worked for the Gilmoor Veterinary Group in Durham for 15 years, has set up a surgery at the Deerness Kennels, in Mill Lane, Langley Moor, and is looking after stray and abandoned animals there.

The facility has 68 kennels and is used by Durham City Council's dog wardens and animal welfare charities including the RSPCA.

Working with her husband John, who is practice manager, she hopes to make finding a home for the kennels' residents easier by offering health checks and vaccinations on animals before they go home with prospective owners.

Mr Bielby said: "We are aiming to provide a cost-effective service for the cats and dogs that use Deerness Kennels.

"We are working with the RSPCA, the Dogs Trust - formerly the National Canine Defence League - and other agencies to try to improve the re-homeability of the animals here.

"For the animals that are fortunate enough to be re-homed we can do a health check for the new owner on site.

"We can do vaccinations, micro-chipping and neutering.''

Mr Bielby said the service could take the worry of expensive vets bills out of owning an abandoned animal. "We are probably that little bit cheaper than commercial vets because we are trying to do this for the charities," he said.

"There are other kennels that have vets on site but, according to the Dogs Trust, this is the first that cares for stray to have a vet.''

To find out about re-homing, call 0191-378 0439.