Two women who have dedicated their lives to helping animals have been nominated for a Pride in Medway Award.

Natasha McPhee and Dee Potter, who run Animals Lost and Found in Kent, have been put forward by more than 10 different people in the community service category.

The pair, who set up the charity last year following the disappearance of their own cat, spend all their time reuniting, re-homing, rehabilitating and rescuing animals across the county.

One-year-old cat Blu went missing in 2013 and still hasn’t been found.

Ms McPhee and Ms Potter, who have eight other cats and five dogs at their home in Gillingham, now find themselves being called out every day to help worried owners who have lost their pets. They also rescue animals which are found injured or abandoned.

Often the couple have to attend animal roadside deaths to see if they can reunite the deceased animal with their owners, something Ms McPhee says is not an easy job.

Lyn Barnard-Hill, one of those who nominated the charity, said: “These girls rescue ferals, hand-rear animals, re-home and find rescue places for all that come across their path. They work 24/7 in all weathers.

“They deserve some recognition for what they do.”

Another nomination came from Julie Wilson, who said: “These ladies run an amazing group of people looking after lost and found pets and feral cats and wildlife.

“They take care of them if they are sick and even if the animal is deceased they take care and try to get them back to their families.”

Ms McPhee said she and Ms Potter are humbled by the nominations and just do what their hearts tell them to do.

Ms McPhee, 34, said: “We are honoured but a bit shell shocked by the nominations. It is very humbling.

“We can’t believe people are amazed by what we do. We just do what’s in our hearts – we don’t think it is amazing.

“It is hard to cope sometimes with seeing deceased animals,
but I would want closure if it was me.

“Our Blu is still missing and we still don’t know what happened to her and I just want closure, you know, to find out what happened to her.

“So really we just try and do that to help others get that closure if their animal is deceased, or return an animal which has been missing.”

The charity relies on donations. Visit www.animalslostandfoundinkent.co.uk to help.

To nominate someone deserving for a Pride in Medway Award, click here.