AN ATHERTON woman is racing ahead with plans to raise money for abandoned huskies.

Ashley Meekin, of Hag Fold, discovered the Saints Sled Dog Rescue while researching the breed before getting her own husky and was shocked by how many dogs are abandoned or mistreated.

She is now putting all her efforts into fundraising for the charity, which rehomes abandoned sled dogs and offers advice and training to owners.

“So many people want sled dogs, especially in the run up to Christmas because they have seen them in films, but few realise how much looking after they require.

“They are quite mischievous, they can jump six foot and you can’t let them off the lead because they will just run off and not come back,” said Ashley.

The charity works with shelters up and down the country and finds foster homes for abandoned dogs before trying to find them ‘forever homes’ once they have been neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Ashley, the proud owner of four-month-old Mika, a Siberian husky, added: “They provide advice and help about looking for a sled dog.

have group meetings and we all go for walks together. I knew what I was letting myself in for but my garden is now full of holes.

“They are a lovely breed but we just want people to realise that they are hard work and then hopefully less will be abandoned.”

The 39-year-old is now selling the charity’s merchandise and gifts donated by businesses to raise money to help SSDR look after the unwanted huskies.

Ashley held a stall at St Philip’s Primary School, on Bolton Old Road, last week and will be at Atherton Outdoor Market behind the parish church with Mika this Saturday, December 7.