An animal welfare charity is “desperate” for your help so that it can survive and continue its life-saving work.

Weymouth and Portland Animal Welfare Society, better known as PAWS, is struggling to raise funds – but the lifesaving work it does is needed now more than ever.

Max Seymour, chairman and animal welfare officer, said: “Since Christmas, it’s just been non-stop with cases. We’ve had phone calls every single day asking for help.”

“At the moment we are so short of money, we’re desperate,” added fundraising manager Denise Davis.

PAWS’ main source of income is its charity shop on St Thomas Street, Weymouth, and the cafe housed inside it.

Max said: “The problem is, people don’t know the shop is here. People don’t know who we are or what we’re capable of doing.”

PAWS was set up by Betty Austin more than 30 years ago, initially to spay and neuter cats.

“But it was never just cats,” said Max. “We helped everything, from mice to horses.”

Betty died in 2008 and Paws was taken over by a new group. It was handed over to Max’s sister after a couple of years.

“We took it on six years ago and we’ve helped so many animal since then – from snails to horses,” said Max.

Paws works closely with the RSPCA to prevent animal cruelty and help animals in need.

It provides home-to-home rescue, rather than placing animals in kennels or catteries, and every animal it rescues is taken for a check-up at the vet and is spayed or neutered before being rehomed.

The charity helps people on low incomes pay their vet bills and has a good relationship with the town’s homeless, many of whom own dogs.

The charity – which has 20 volunteers and six trustees- raised £67,000 in 2014 and its outgoings reached £60,000.

It pays rent for its shop, water and electricity rates and contributes to the Weymouth BID.

“We have got to keep this shop going,” said Max. “And we are unique; we are a charity shop with a dog-friendly café inside – so pop in and see us.”