LABRADORS are a passion for Barbara Watford - and one that doesn't stop with her own four much-loved dogs.

As trustee and volunteer for The Labrador Rescue Trust, Barbara spends much of her working day finding new homes for abandoned and neglected pure-breeds.

Now in its tenth year, the trust - which has over 130 workers across the South - successfully rehoused nearly 500 Labradors in 1998 and in the past six months has seen an explosion in the numbers needing new homes.

With so many dogs to help, the trust is always in need of help, particularly in the Southampton, New Forest and Salisbury areas.

And nobody knows better than Barbara how busy a volunteer's day can be.

She said: "We always take care to match a dog with the most suitable home and owner. So workers have to go out, assess both the dog and the new owners.

"And our work doesn't stop there. We will always keep an eye on the dog's progress and make follow-up visits to sort out any problems.

"The trust has also carried out a lot of work - with people even going undercover - to bring an end to puppy farming. Not only are they cruel but puppy farms are also bringing in a lot of traits in Labradors which can make them too difficult for the average home. We are then left dealing with the consequences."

But such successful work of course requires financial support and to mark its tenth anniversary the trust is aiming to raise £50,000. Trust patron and appeal co-ordinator Jan Menzies said: "Many of the dogs have been rescued from appalling conditions.

"They are often in desperate need of veterinary treatment or kennelling and rehabilitation, which can be extremely costly.

"The money we hope to raise will allow us to continue to find these Labradors good homes." For more information about the trust, the tenth anniversary appeal or to make a donation visit the web site at:

http://www.k9netuk.com/charities/labrescue-trust.html or telephone 01398 341372.

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