A charity dedicated to animal welfare and supporting bereaved pet owners is facing new challenges as a result of Covid-19.

Animals Lost and Found in Kent (ALFIK) is based in Gillingham and run by partners Natasha McPhee and Dee Potter.

Natasha, the director of ALFIK, began the charity in 2014 alongside Dee.

The 36-year-old said: "This all started seven years ago when our cat, Blue, went missing.

"Through neighbours we were told that she was found dead on a road, but when we went to find her, so we could bring her home and say goodbye properly, we couldn't track her down.

"We called the council to see if they'd picked up any deceased animals in the area and if they'd chip-checked a cat that belonged to us.

"I was told that at the time they didn't chip check, and that angered us. What's the point of having your animal microchipped if it will only be checked by a vet if they're alive?

"So we began Animals Lost and Found in Kent. We wanted to offer as many services as we could for bereaved pet owners, and those who have animals missing, so they wouldn't have to feel like we did when we lost Blue."

Thanks to Natasha and Dee's hard work, ALFIK offers animal and human first aid, pregnancy scanning for animals in their care, pet bereavement counselling, microchipping, veterinary treatment and much more.

Dee and Natasha work tirelessly, with the support of a small number of dedicated animal welfare officers, to help the animals of Kent at their most vulnerable times, be it missing from home, involved in an accident, stolen or needing a new home.

Natasha said: "After two years, Animals Lost and Found in Kent finally became a registered charity.

"We have 15 volunteers across the county and more than 30,000 people on our Facebook page.

"We've worked with animal welfare, the Fox Project - a charity dedicated to the red fox - Kent Wildlife and most rescues in Kent.

"Animals Lost and Found in Kent helps all animals from chickens to cats and dogs. One time we had the police call us up and say they had a pig at the station!

"I thought they were joking at first but we went along and rescued the pig. We never know what we're going to face."

ALFIK's work has managed to reunite many pets and their owners.

Recently, a back cat named Luther was reunited with his owners two years and nine months after he went missing.

However, not every incident has the same outcome.

Natasha said: "At first we thought it was a cat, but we found a puppy in a bag at the side of the road.

"The puppy had its mouth and legs bound and a fractured skull. It wasn't the first puppy we'd found this way either."

There are numerous fatalities ALFIK attends to daily. The charity treats every animal with respect whether a pet or wild animal, ensuring it is taken to a vet. If it is potentially owned, it is checked for a registered chip to try to be reunited with its family so they can put them to rest.

ALFIK's social media also provides a vital platform for members of the public to list lost or found pets.

The team actively monitors the page to provide important advice as needed, which has been proven to work many times over.

Natasha said: "Now, more than ever, we are facing increased challenges of helping animals in the midst of a pandemic.

"We all wear full PPE and operate as safely as we can but sometimes we have to enter people's houses to rescue animals.

"Even if we don't have to enter someone's home, breaking the news to someone that their pet has died is really hard because now we can't offer them any physical comfort.

"But we still give people advice and contacts to help them with their bereavement.

"We help pet owners if they can't drive or get out to look for pets if they're ill or have Covid, so our role has changed a lot because of the pandemic.

"The pet owners' mental health plays a huge part in what we do and, even with the lockdown restrictions, we will do what we can."

Despite most fundraising being put on hold, ALFIK will continue helping animals in need.

To find out more visit the Facebook page here or the website.

To donate to Animals Lost and Found in Kent click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.