FISH is off the menu at a new animal charity shop in South Shields.
Feline Friends has moved into premises in Winchester Street, occupied until a couple of years ago by a fishmonger.
The charity, the brainchild of Sunderland-based Gillian Connor, aims to raise cash to re-home abandoned cats and other animals, and pay for ever-rising veterinary costs.
But when volunteers moved into the premises, they noticed one thing in particular – the strong smell of fish.
Helen Hill, from Whitburn, who will be managing the outlet, said: “It really stank of fish.
“It had been a fishmonger’s for years, and the smell was rank. It has undergone a major refit and, thankfully, the smell is now gone.”
Mrs Hill dismissed fears that “yet another charity shop” was a negative for the town’s retail vitality.
She said: “This is very much an independent concern. It’s not a big-league name and we will be keeping our prices very low to make the goods we sell competitive.”
The shop got lucky after David Johnson, who was closing his beauty business Blushers in Sunderland, donated a large selection of cosmetics free of charge.
Mrs Hill added: “More and more animals are getting dumped all the time, and animal lovers are facing pressure from landlords, who don’t want pets on their premises.
“Gillian has a policy that she would never allow an animal to be put down, and has a network of foster-parents.
“In addition, vet bills are rising all the time and the money we raise is vital to keep the service going.”
Twitter@shieldsgazpaul
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