At this time of global upheaval, there's a vet nurse in Cranborne, a tiny village in the UK, sending urgent aid parcels full of veterinary supplies all over the world to help animals in need.

Lulu Peddle works for the charity Worldwide Veterinary Service and is using the charity's global network to ensure that supplies are sent where they're needed most.

She says, "Along with the rest of the world, we've been shocked to witness the spread and impact of COVID-19 and our hearts go out to all those affected. There are still many animals in need of being cared for by brave charities around the world who are requesting our help. It is vital that we continue to support them in any way that is safe to do so."

Worldwide Veterinary Service has been sending aid parcels around the world since they were formed in 2003. Shipments have been sent to war zones along with the most deprived countries on Earth. Wherever these supplies are sent, they are desperately needed'often constituting the only veterinary provisions available.

On Thursday of last week, Lulu packaged up almost 50kg of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pain relief to send to Italy; responding to an urgent request from local charities to help them treat the animals in their care in this pandemic hotspot.

Lulu has been a vet nurse for over 13 years, working first in practice and now for the international animal welfare charity Worldwide Veterinary Service.

Worldwide Veterinary Service provides veterinary support to animals in need in places where no one else can. They do this by sending vets where no care is on offer, training them to increase the standard of care globally and by shipping urgent aid supplies worldwide, every week of the year.

The charity was set up by Dr. Luke Gamble who says, "The sweeping travel restrictions mean that it's harder for our amazing veterinary teams to directly support animals in places where veterinary resource is already lacking. Thankfully, the global supply network is still operating; meaning that we can strive to increase sending essential medical supplies to people caring for animals with increasingly limited provisions."

"Now more than ever, it's crucial we keep urgent veterinary aid shipments flowing. We appreciate these are unsettling times and many of us are facing challenges of our own, but we're asking those who can afford to contribute to our fundraiser to give whatever they can so that even more life-saving parcels can be sent."

Worldwide Veterinary Service sends over one thousand parcels every year, with supplies valued at over $268,000.

Those who would like to help can donate to the charity's crowdfunding appeal. Donations will be used over the coming weeks to ensure that urgent veterinary supplies can be sent where they are needed most.