IT'S a dog's life for caring Michelle Jackson - and that's just the way she likes it.

The 24-year-old, who lives with her boyfriend, Karl, in Foster Street, Accrington, is a foster carer for Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, a charity organisation based in Rishton that cares for and re-houses stray dogs.

And big-hearted Michelle, who works full-time as a home care assistant for I and A Home Care, loves her role so much that she has just taken on her third house guest - eight-week-old Scrappy.

Scrappy, a black Staffordshire cross, was found abandoned in a back yard off Blackburn Road, Accrington, last Friday. He had spent the night outside until a family discovered him, and he was originally christened Wellard for surviving the freezing temperatures. Another puppy, believed to be his brother, was also discovered nearby later the same day.

Michelle was asked to look after Wellard until he could be re-housed, but she was so taken with the playful pup that she decided to keep him for herself - naming him Scrappy after her other two dogs, McGinley and Cork, started fighting with him.

She said: "I saw an article in the Observer around September last year about Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, asking for volunteers, so I rang them up. Since then we've looked after three dogs. Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need pays for all the food and the inoculations, and I just look after them for anything from a couple of days to a month. They try to re-house them as quickly as possible.

"I love dogs so it's really worthwhile, and all my friends think it's great."

Michelle added the charity was looking for more volunteer foster carers. To get involved, contact Mr Roy Baker on 888555.