North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne with Ashleigh Jones and Lynda Crozier from Rosie's Trust and Niamh Mason.

North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne has met with 'Rosie's Trust' a local charity for the terminally ill, cancer patients, older people and their pets which keeps owners and their pets together. The MLA added:

"I was delighted to meet with 'Rosie's Trust' an organisation that devotes their time to supporting people who are finding it difficult to care for their pet due to deteriorating health conditions. 'Rosie's Trust' works in partnership with the owner and their pet to support the relationship, the Trust uses volunteers to give any practical help they may need including walking; however they will also provide emergency vet visits, cat and small animal care.

“Charities such as 'Rosie's Trust' are incredibly important to Northern Ireland and the work that they commit themselves to is very commendable and can make a real difference during difficult times for those in poor health and can help to sustain that companion and support which a pet can bring to all of our lives.

“This extremely worthwhile charity are able to produce long term future plans in such events that the owner may need to go into nursing care or long term hospital admittance. 'Rosie's Trust' will try and accommodate a solution by continuing to support a friend or family member in the care for the pet or one of their volunteers who will agree to adopt the pet.

“'Rosie's Trust' operates on a volunteer basis and due to the nature of their services they need plenty of volunteers who are willing to spare their time to walk dogs, feed cats, empty litter trays and clean out birds cages.

“Furthermore, it does not charge at all for any of these services and are entirely dependent on contributions from all their amazing fundraising endeavours most recently in the 'Hiker Hounds NI' walk held in January and the help of generous supporters. More information on this very worthwhile charity can be found at www.rosiestrust.org and on Facebook and Twitter.”