A CHURCH service for pets and their owners which raised funds for a charity took place in Poole.

Reverend Lucy Holt led the service at St James' Church on Thames Street on Saturday, which was attended by around 40 people consisting of single people, couples and families with children and a menagerie of dogs - and a guinea pig.

It was organised by Reverend Holt and the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Xena Dion, as a way for people to give thanks to animals while collecting donations for Waggy Tails Rescue, which is one of the Mayor's chosen causes.

Songs and hymns during the service included If I Were A Butterfly, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Arthur Poulton, who is a trustee for the Waggy Tails Rescue, was given the opportunity to speak to the congregation about the charity's work. He said: "It costs us £350,000 to run what we do and we save the lives of about 200 to 250 animals each year.

"We have a number of animals are in foster homes and we are continue to provide all the necessary things they need.

"We rely on the volunteers who come in because the dogs need walking twice a day and we do have paid staff who look after the dogs because that is a 24-hours a day, seven days a week exercise. We have to have a few paid staff to keep that going but all the administration and running of the charity is done by volunteers.

"We thank God for all the assistance we are given throughout the year."

During the service, Revered Holt said that 'animals are pretty amazing' as they provide humans with love, company and 'teach us how to look after each other and for children to learn to care for things.'

After the event, she said: "Church services with animals are something that the church has been doing for many years. When I suggest it, people compare it to the Vicar of Dibley but these services were held long before that."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Xena Dion, said that she was pleased with how many people had come along and hoped that the service could be repeated again before the end of her mayoral year.

She added: "It was a chance to recognise the joy that people have with their animals."