GIVE a Dog a Bone... and an animal a home is a young, unique and award-winning charity.

The charity tackle loneliness and social isolation in older adults, through animal companionship.

It does this via two projects:

*Financial support to the over 60s to afford a rescue pet companion - it’s a WIN/WIN, the person gets a friends and the animal gets a home!

*A community space project, which offers retired people a safe space to make new friends, learn new skills and mix with dogs!

A year ago, the charity opened a community space in Ayr Street in Troon.

Over the past year the charity has held various free courses and activities for the over 60s including Mindfulness, Chair Yoga, Italian, Spanish, Creative Writing, Reflexology and Reiki.

The charity also has a group dog walk every Friday, which anyone can join in on - regardless of age and whether they have a dog or not!

Anybody, of any age, can pop to the community space on Ayr Street for a free cuppa and to meet our very special team of companionship dogs!

The charity’s Pet Food Bank is also available to anyone of any age.

Louise Russell, Founder, said: “We have been welcomed with open arms by the Troon Community. It was a great decision to open in Troon - we now have many regulars who consider the community space as integral to their lives and have helped many humans and dogs in the process. We look forward to being part of the Troon Landscape for years to come!’

Retired Troon man Gordon Bennett has benefited from Give a Dog a Bone.

The retired 60-year-old planning manager and former dog owner said: “I go in a couple of times a week and enjoy going to the Spanish classes with my wife, June which helps us with the basics when we’re over, like ordering food and giving your name and it’s great to have an opportunity to meet the dogs when we’re in and people enjoy that.

“It’s also good to have a chat with the other centre users.

“Give a Dog a Bone have helped people in the community who enjoy companionship and also enjoy coming in to talk to the dogs, quite a few of them drop in.

“They do a lot of good work in the area and help bring people together.”