Over the last seven years, Lee Herron has helped reunite hundreds of people with their lost pets.
Despite having a full-time job in communications, Lee’s spare time is dedicated to the Facebook group she set up to share information and fundraise for equipment including humane traps, remote cameras and thermal imaging in a bid to trace lost dogs.
That group – Lost Dogs Dumfries and Galloway – now has nearly 8,000 members and continues to go from strength to strength.
It has become a vital resource in helping frantic owners find their beloved missing pooches.
In January, 2020, three-year-old dachshund Cookie was reunited with her family after going AWOL for a week.
She had run off at Kissock Forest, near Beeswing, but after a major search operation, surviving extreme weather and two close shaves with the same lorry, Cookie returned.
Lee had set some humane traps and put up a night-vision camera in a bid to trace Cookie and she was eventually rescued in a garden near Beeswing after covering three-and-a-half miles in the wild.
Her grateful owner David Melville, from Hoddom, said the support the family received from Lee was “amazing” and they were “so thankful for it”.
As well as the everyday help and support she gives, Lee also started up a Christmas appeal for treats for those with pets in hardship six years ago – and it has grown and grown.
This festive season she was thrilled to be able to dish out 250 doggy bags.
She said: “The idea came about after I heard about some people who were relying on foodbanks and sharing the food with their dogs because they couldn’t afford dog food.
“The first year we received enough donations to help 50 people – this year was incredible and we managed to make up 250 bags.
“The demand has risen dramatically over the years and this year we received more requests than ever from groups and individuals. I’m just glad we could help so many dogs.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who donated to the contents of the bags this year – I can’t believe we were able to make up 250 bags to help give dogs who otherwise wouldn’t receive a gift, something special on Christmas Day.
“The donations have been even more incredible given the increased pressure on everyone’s budgets just now.
“I’ve heard from many people who received a bag for their dog say it really made a difference and made them happy they could spoil their dog, even though they were struggling themselves. To many people, dogs are their only family.”
The Christmas doggy gift bags included a mix of dry dog food, tins of food, treats, biscuits, balls and toys and they were distributed by a team of volunteers to foodbanks, rescues, community groups and individuals across the region.
Lee added: “This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of so many people across the region who donate every year. I can’t thank them, and those who help deliver the bags, enough.
“It’s a real family affair when it comes to putting the bags together with myself, husband Roger and mother-in-law Beth all on packing duties. The house is a bit like a chocolate factory for dogs for a few weeks.
“Butchers dog food also donated a huge amount of tins, which helps us support groups throughout the year – and allowed us to give out plenty of food with the bags this Christmas.”
Various foodbanks and community groups across the region received them including First Base Agency, Dumfriesshire Foodbank, Veterans Garden Dumfries, We Are With You, Kate’s Kitchen in Annan, Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Development Trust, Women’s Aid as well as some individuals affected by recent flooding who lost everything. Some Ukrainian refugee families in the region were also helped.
Bags were also issued this year to several rescues including Monk’s Bunks dog rescue in Carlisle, Alfie’s Dream for Greyhounds in Lockerbie as well as the Maggie Fleming Animal Hospice in Kirkcudbright.
Karen Wylie, project co-ordinator for Lochside Community Association and the Grub Club, said: “Thanks to Lee and Lost Dogs D&G we are able to give families in our community who have dogs a helping hand over the Christmas period where money is a little tight.
“This was especially the case this year with the increasing cost of living crippling a lot of people.
“These bags were a great help and very much appreciated by so many people as their four-legged friends are a huge part of their family.”
“This donation of doggy Christmas treat bags from Lost Dogs Dumfries and Galloway has allowed those with beloved dogs to treat their faithful friends at Christmas with toys, treats and a good quality dinner.”
