THE doors of a caring charity project who bring pets and lonely pensioners together will be thrown officially open in Troon at the end of next month.

Give a Dog a Bone will be taking over the old TSB in Ayr Street and hope to open from mid to late November.

The charity’s fifth birthday party and official opening of the Troon base will be on Friday, November 30 (St Andrew’s Day) from noon until 3pm.

It’s their second base in the west of Scotland following a successful opening in Shawlands in January.

The charity are concerned about the rising number of animals in shelters and loneliness in our ageing years and want to bring animals and the over 60s together.

They will help with their monthly pet food and/or insurance costs.

Their hope is that this will prevent this group from handing their beloved pets into overcrowded shelters.

And they will support over-60s – who are unable to afford a pet – to benefit from the love of an animal.

If they choose to re-home an animal from a shelter, they can pay all associated re-homing fees, whilst providing ongoing monthly support with pet food costs.

If they choose to re-home an animal from a shelter, the charity can pay for all associated re-homing fees, whilst providing ongoing monthly support with pet food costs.

If they meet the criteria, money has to be a genuine barrier and it has to be a rescue animal.

Retired people will have an opportunity to come in to the premises with or without a dog and they will be made feel very welcome.

They will have a wide range of activities - group dog walks, a pet food bank, Reiki (alternative medicine) and Italian for beginners.