LOUISE RUSSELL had always dreamed of setting up her own charity.

The only hurdle was working out how to combine her two concerns, animal welfare and loneliness among the older population.

She hit on the idea of rehoming animals in need - with people in need of companionship.

Give A Dog A Bone was set up in 2013 and now Louise is running the organisation full time with paid staff.

Earlier this year she set up a community hub in Shawlands and now has plans to open a second centre outside Glasgow.

"I was a serial volunteer for different charities but it was my dream to do something of my own," she said.

"It's now nearly five years since I set up my website in November 2013 to help rehome dogs with older people.

"It was a simple solution to two problems that I care about.

"I have a house full of animals myself, all rescue animals. And I really enjoy spending time with elderly people so it is amazing to be able to work on my baby every day."

The initial idea was simple: anyone over 60 who wanted to rehome a dog would be supported to do so, from practical assistance to financial assistance.

Give A Dog A Bone covers costs such as pet insurance and food and, if the person rehomes from a shelter, it will pay rehoming fees.

There is a also a pet food bank in the Pollokshaws Road hub.

But the newest focus of the charity is the Shawlands community hub where classes are laid on each week from Spanish for Beginners to yoga.

Everything is free and open to those over-60. Louise said: "We say over 60 because I learned early on not to use the word 'elderly' - no one thinks of themselves in that way."

For some of the regulars, the activities have been life changing.

Margaret Harvey, from Cardonald, started coming to Give A Dog A Bone in February, despite illness that had kept her housebound previously.

Taking the yoga classes has helped her mobility and now, having not been able to move her left arm, she can reach and stretch.

The 65-year-old said: "I never really went out of the house and didn't keep in good health so when I heard that this was opening up I thought I'd come along and get to know people.

"I have been doing yoga and it's amazing.

"You meet lovely people here. I love coming along because of the people you meet and the yoga has done me the world of good.

"I have arthritis and circulation problems. When I started coming here I couldn't move my left arm at all.

"I was a really shy person and I thought I wasn't good at meeting people but I found it easy to come here."

Margaret is Louise's aunt, so she was helped by knowing she'd have a friendly face when she came along.

But she says there is something for everyone at Give A Dog A Bone - and plenty of friendly faces.

She added: "I was afraid of dogs too but this morning there were three dogs here and I was fine with them. It shows that I've overcome a lot.

"Some people don't see anybody all week. Sometimes you meet people and they have not spoken to anybody for a couple of days.

"I would tell them to come here. The difference in me since I started coming is amazing. I started off slowly and now I do a wee bit more and a wee bit more.

"I am very, very proud of Louise. She has given so many people a new lease of life."

On the day the Evening Times visited, Margaret was being kept company by 90-year-old Jim Reilly and a volunteer who pops in to ensure there's always someone to talk to.

Retired teacher Marlene Picker was also taking advantage of the charity's new hub, attending mindfulness classes on a Monday and yoga every Wednesday.

The 74-year-old has a Yorkie, called Misty, and wanted to join a dog walking group.

She said: "I was a carer for my husband and feeling really isolated.

"People can lose their network when they retire and children grow up and are busy with their own lives.

"One of my goals was to meet more people and this was ideal. Everybody has their unique story, when you start to talk to them, so there's always plenty to talk about here."

Visitors to the charity are greeted by two working dogs - Cockapoo Cooper, who is three and belongs to Louise's neighbour, and Stella, a three-year-old rescue dog from Croatia, who belongs to a volunteer.

Sometimes, Louise says, people pop in who happen to be walking by as they spot Stella and Cooper.

Often they end up staying.

She said: "We have a lot of support on social media with donations coming from all around the world and a lot of word of mouth. Women take leaflets in their handbags and give them out on the bus."

Louise's plan is to open a second community hub and is currently searching for premises.

She said: "For three and a half years I was a volunteer for the charity and raising two kids while working full time.

"Now I get to do this full time and it is so rewarding."

Louise recently rehomed an 11-year-old dog with an 87-yer-old woman.

"On chatting with her, I found out she used to be a pilot," she said.

"Our older generations are full of stories and interesting information. There's a whole resource there to be mined but if you don't ask questions, if you don't scratch the surface, then you'll never find those jewels.

"I get to do that all day. This is a dream come true."