A DOG kennel now has isolation units to help prevent a deadly parvovbirus outbreak after four canines died last year.

The much-needed re-homing centre had to be closed for two weeks and all the animals kept isolated to stop the spread of the disease.

The Friends of Barrow Borough Kennel started fundraising to get the cash to provide isolation units for the Walney kennels.

Now three isolation kennels have been installed.

Janine Femming, group treasurer, said: "Early last year one of the kennel dogs became poorly with what was thought was a simple tummy bug sadly for Pudding, a stray, it turned out to be Parvo and Pudding sadly died. Two others Holly and Buster had contracted the disease and had to be put to sleep. 

"Buster had been in kennels a while and was a favourite of many of the walkers, it was heart breaking. 

"The kennels closed for two weeks, no dog walking was allowed. When it finally opened a poor dog was found abandoned tied to a lamp post and brought to the kennels emaciated and sadly died, again the kennels shut as they again suspected parvo."

She explained how some walkers set up a fundraising group with an aim of raising £5,000 to build an isolation block.

Mrs Fleming said: "We quickly raised the money with the help of fundraisers such as Paula Chesher. Karen Ashdown arranged a charity quiz and raffle night and raised an amazing amount of money in memory of her friend and colleague Jan Mead who sadly passed away in 2014. Lesley Godwin who arranged a charity night as well as car boots along with Jade Salton raised a vast amount of the funds. Helena Fayyazi donated money from hairstyling for a day as well as collecting donations from clients in her salon and Neil who donated money from his birthday celebrations and everyone who donated no matter how small. 

"Without these kind folk we wouldn't have got here and we would like to give huge thanks to every single one of them and now we have been able to gift isolation kennels to the homeless dogs and they are finally fitted, they will hopefully help keep the long term residents safe from contracting Parvo from any new strays. 

"We'd like to give a big thank you to Leck construction for constructing the base, Mixrite Mini-construction for supplying the cement and Optech Fibres for installing lights and electrics all have very kindly given their time and materials free off charge. 

"We never want a repeat of what happened in 2015 and hopefully the new isolation kennels will help stop it ever putting the long term residents at risk again."