A YEAR ago, Cindy Nietz, from Magor, came across Ted in a dog pound, a collie- cross dog who was about to be put down because he was so old.

Along with some fellow dog enthusiasts, she took him under her wing and found him a new home.

Since then Cindy and friends have helped to rehouse and look after more than 400 dogs. Now they are looking for volunteers from all over Gwent to help with their work.

The group formed the Oldies Club, which finds lonely old dogs new homes where they can spend their last days in peace.

Re-homing older dogs is often a tough task.

Volunteers all over the country foster dogs while the group works hard to find new permanent homes. They are constantly looking for new volunteers to help look after and transport dogs to new owners, and currently have volunteers in Newport and Chepstow. Lynne Page, 52, from Ringland in Newport, is currently housing Todd, a ten-year-old Labrador.

She said fostering dogs is "so rewarding".

She said: "He's absolutely adorable. I don't think people realise how much old dogs have to give. There's also the practical side of having a ready-trained dog, who's great with kids, cats and other dogs.

"I've only been fostering for six weeks and have already had one dog re-housed. He went to lovely people and it's so rewarding when they find new homes."

Mrs Nietz said they decided to set up the Oldies Club when they realised how many dogs they could help.

She said: "We fell in love with Ted last year, and with the idea of helping older dogs. So many people are just not aware of how much an older dog has to offer."

Nicola Briggs, of Chepstow, has a ten-year-old border collie called Izzy looking for a home.

For more information about adopting dogs or getting involved, call Cindy Nietz on 07733 102784.