Charity | Posted on March 13th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset charity founder on a mission to help more animals
A Dorset animal lover who founded a charity to help street dogs and cats in Sri Lanka will be on a mission later this month.
Alena Warburton and two volunteers are self-funding a trip to Sri Lanka at the end of March to organise and help undertake the work carried out by the charity, Lucas Helps Dogs, which Alena founded to support the millions of street dogs and cats in Sri Lanka.
She first visited the country in 2019 on her honeymoon but was devastated at the plight of animals living on the streets. Following this, the 38-year-old set up Lucas Helps Dogs – named after her late pet.
Accountant Alena from Sturminster Newton, says the charity has reached a milestone having sterilised 1,024 animals, vaccinated 1,000, carried out 126 emergency treatments and 576 skin treatments.
She explained that Lucas Helps Dogs is currently focusing its efforts in an area on the south coast called Hikkaduwa, where it works alongside a small team of locals along with temples and schools.
She said: “We’re absolutely delighted to reach this milestone, which will save tens of thousands of puppies and kittens from being born into a life of misery on the streets.
“Everyday animals in Sri Lanka face dangerous roads, disease, and a struggle to find food, water and a safe place to sleep.
“But this figure is just the start. In Hikkaduwa there has been a huge improvement in the health of dogs and cats. We have even had regular tourists and locals contact us to say how much better the situation in our area is.”
And now the team is looking to help even more animals in need by venturing to a second location, where Alena said the dogs are in the worst condition she had ever seen.
“The last time we were in Sri Lanka we visited a remote area called Udawalawe,” said Alena. “We were absolutely devastated at the number of dogs at the side of the road, with horrendous injuries, severely underweight and completely bald due to a painful skin condition called mange.
“The nearest vets are more than two hours away, and no one is working in this area to care for the dogs and cats.
“We are continuing our work in Hikkaduwa, but plan to also visit this second location to carry out first aid and skin treatments, with a view to also establishing a sterilisation, vaccination and education programme here.”
Alena and the charity’s two trustees raise as much money as possible by selling handmade leads, collars and treats at local fairs.
She said: “We completely fund transport, travel and all other costs ourselves and ensure all the money we raise goes to helping the dogs and cats. Funds are always tight and we spend nearly every weekend at festivals and fairs up and down the country raising awareness about what we do and the plight of street animals in Sri Lanka.
“Please consider supporting us. Any amount goes a huge way and helps us to help the animals.”
While in Sri Lanka Alena will be leaving her husband Mike at home to look after their rescue street dog Brownie, rescue cat Mushroom and disabled Sri Lankan cats Sammy and Lucy.
Visit www.lucashelpsdogs.com for more information or to donate. Follow @lucashelpsdogs on Instagram for updates.
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