WHEN it opened in the autumn of 1966, The Canine Defence League was a small centre in Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, which could look after 60 dogs.

Things changed in 1992, when the centre was knocked down and rebuilt before being reopened by well-known writer and dog lover Jilly Cooper on July 15, 1993, who also found her pet lurcher, Hero, at the centre and sponsored another dog.

The total of dogs the centre was able to take in rose, and now, 35 years after it first opened, it houses up to 150 dogs.

The wooden kennels and chicken huts are long gone and in their place are modern circular kennel blocks with exercise runs and heated accommodation.

In the last year, the centre has cared for and rehomed more than 400 dogs.

There are also more than 100 dogs on the centre's foster scheme, which means that elderly dogs or dogs with medical problems, are able to live in loving homes with the NCDL picking up any vet bills.

The NCDL now also has an external rehoming scheme, where dogs to be rehomed remain with their owners rather than at the centre.

Their data and picture is put into a 'dogalogue' and then visitors and potential owners, who are unable to find a suitable dog at the centre, can view the file, giving them a wider choice.

Clarissa Baldwin, NCDL chief executive, said: "The rehoming figures from NCDL Evesham speak for themselves.

"The centre has had a fabulous 10 years and we look forward to an even better 10 to come.

"Our work is never done and by rehoming more dogs in Evesham and the surrounding area, hopefully we can stop many other dogs becoming just a statistic."

Evesham NCDL manager Chris Slight said: "I have only been here a few years but even in that time Evesham has seen lots of changes.

"It is nice to see the charity as a whole moving forward and working hard to try to prevent the stray dog problem rather than just deal with the results of irresponsible ownership.

"The NCDL is about more than just rehoming dogs and the more we can spread the 'responsible dog ownership' message, hopefully more people will begin to realise that owning a dog is a long term commitment. After all, a dog is for life."

The NCDL Evesham is open from noon-4pm every day except Tuesdays. All this month, the centre will be open until 7pm on Thursday.

The charity is also sending out a Mobile Rehoming Unit, which will be travelling around the area.

Catch it at Stratford Racecourse on October 20. More dates are promised for later this year.

For more information, contact NCDL Evesham on 01386 830613.