Is this Notts dog rescue charity the best?

Jerry Green Dog Rescue, in Blidworth, has been nominated as the Animal Charity Volunteer of the Year, Animal Charity Employee of the Year and Animal Charity Team of the Year, in this year’s Petplan and Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) Animal Charity Awards.

The annual awards celebrate outstanding animal charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK who go above and beyond to help rescue and rehome animals in need.

Simone Dewis has been a dog welfare assistant at the centre for five years and is nominated in the Animal Charity Employee of the Year category.

The 26-year-old took part in the Macmillan Brave the Shave campaign in 2015 – having never previously cut her hair – and split her fundraising total between the cancer charity and Jerry Green.

Simone said: “I am delighted to have been shortlisted in this year’s Petplan and ADCH Awards. I get to do something I love for a living, and to be recognised for this is an added bonus.”

Also shortlisted, in the Animal Charity Volunteer of the Year Award category, is Ralph Ellis with his furry Newfoundland friend Rafferty, who have together raised a total of £12,000 for Jerry Green Dog Rescue.

The charity has a dedicated team of volunteers at each of its five centres but Ralph, who helps out with fundraising for the charity’s site in Broughton, North Lincolnshire, has been recognised for his special efforts.

He said: “Rafferty and I have become somewhat of a double act in the local area, and it is an absolute pleasure to have raised so much cash for such a worthy cause. But we won’t stop there.”

Jenny Harris, Fundraiser at Jerry Green Dog Rescue, said: “It is so great that Jerry Green Dog Rescue has been nominated in all three categories.

“There is so much hard work that goes on behind the scenes to provide the best level of care for all dogs we come in to contact with, and we have fantastic support from people just like Simone and Ralph.

“These awards are a great way to recognise such support, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who nominated Jerry Green Dog Rescue.

“Whether we’re lucky enough to be winners in any of the three categories or not, we’re already proud to have come this far.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in April.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.petplan.co.uk/charityawards.

If you would like to find out more about Jerry Green Dog Rescue or the dogs currently looking for a forever home, please visit the website: www.jerrygreendogs.org.uk.