DIVA dogs and outgoing owners are being urged to attend a circus-themed charity fundraising party in Salisbury.

Lucas Helps Dogs – which helps street dogs in Sri Lanka – is hosting an event at The Anchor and Hope, in Winchester Street, on Saturday (August 31).

Paw Fest will take place in two sessions, with an afternoon featuring stalls, a barbecue, dog show, live dog painting and more running from 3.30pm to 7pm, before an evening featuring an aerial circus show, DJ, raffle and more getting underway at 8pm.

Lucas Helps Dogs carries out spay, neuter and rabies vaccination clinics, along with emergency treatments, to help the six million dogs living on the streets of Sri Lanka.

In the past year, it sterilised and vaccinated well over 600 dogs and cats and funded emergency treatments for many animals and cancer treatment for 25.

More than 150 dogs have been treated for painful skin conditions and carries out a feeding round for local dogs providing thousands of meals each month.

Founder, Alena Warburton, said: “We are so excited about this event. We held a successful Valentine’s event in February and this one will be bigger and better.

“We are really hoping lots of people and their dogs will turn out to support us. Every penny we raise is used to carry out our work in Sri Lanka.

“We have an employee and vet team on the ground who carry out our spay and neuter clinics, and the regular trips we make to carry out mass clinics are completely self-funded.

“It’s a real labour of love but these are such special dogs who live a life of misery on Sri Lanka’s dangerous roads.

“We really hope as many people and their dogs as possible will turn out to enjoy our Circus Paw Fest event and support a great cause.”

Visit www.lucashelpsdogs.com for more details.