The founder of a charity tackling loneliness in Ayrshire through the power of pets has been honoured with a top award.
Louise Russell, who runs Give a Dog a Bone, has scooped a prestigious Pride of Scotland Community Hero award for her inspiring work to support the elderly.
The charity which has a community space in Troon including a Pet Food Bank, provides free activities and a team of lovable companionship dogs.
Louise, 47, was presented with the accolade at a glitzy ceremony hosted by comedians Elaine C. Smith and Sanjeev Kohil at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Still Game stars Greg Hemphill and Gavin Mitchell presented her award, with the selfless charity boss also praised by Ricky Gervais with the UK comic and huge dog lover sending a heartfelt video message.
And the award came with a £10,000 boost for the charity from the award’s sponsor TSB.
Louise said: “It’s lovely to be honoured in this way and I hope it will help it will shed more light on the work we do at Give a Dog a Bone.
“It’s a real team effort and I wouldn’t be able to operate the service I do without a wonderful team of staff and volunteers behind me."
Louise dreamed of setting up a charity which would address two issues close to her heart – animal welfare and isolation in older people.
Give a Dog a Bone supports pensioners by removing some of the financial barriers in adopting a rescue pet.
The charity helps with the cost of rehoming a rescue animal and ongoing help with insurance costs.
The Troon community space in the town’s Ayr Street is one of three spaces across the country with one in Shawlands, Glasgow and Alloa.
The three spaces provide a host of free activities for the over 60s including Group Dog Walks, Reflexology, Chair Yoga, Art Club and Singing for Wellbeing sessions.
Louise added: “We’re proud of the charity’s dual role and over the past nine years we’re delighted to have brought thousands of animals and older people together.
“It’s so important to tackle social isolation and we welcome anyone who wants to come along to one of our community spaces to pop in for a cup of tea, a chat, some fun activities and to meet the dogs belonging to our staff and volunteers.”
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