Student praised for rescuing Greek dogs

A student who has spent the last decade making trips to Greece to help a stray dog charity has said: "It's probably the best thing I've done so far."

Mitchell Knight has recently been named Shropshire's Outstanding Young Citizen for 2026 by the county's High Sheriff for supporting Healing Paws Animal Rescue on the island of Zakynthos.

The Telford College student said he was introduced to the charity by his aunt, while on a family holiday there in 2016.

As well as working at the shelter, he and his family have brought back 16 dogs to the UK, to get them rehomed.

Knight, who lives in Newport, said he first heard about the charity when his aunt found a stray dog on Zakynthos, also known as Zante, and wanted to find it a home.

They spotted a poster advertising Healing Paws Animal Rescue and paid it a visit.

Since then, he has visited once a year and his aunt has visited two or three times a year.

He said: "We will either help in their shelters, cleaning up or building new ones and taking food, treats and toys over."

Knight has also done a skydive to raise £700 for the charity, which also helps unwanted cats, horses and goats.

Knight, who remembers his aunt's sheepdogs when he was growing up, said the charity attracts volunteers from all over the world.

When they bring back dogs to the UK, his family has to get them health-checked and gives them time to adapt to life in this country before finding them homes.

"We've kept more than we'd like to admit," he confessed and said his family was currently looking after eight strays from Zakynthos.

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