VETS from a charity in East Dorset have flown to Armenia to help save the lives of three lionesses.

Mother Mery and her two daughters, Zita and Gita, were found emaciated living on allegedly abandoned land belonging to an Armenian billionaire, where they were kept alive - just - by a generous older couple.

And it was only by chance that the Worldwide Veterinary Service team, based in Cranborne, read an article about them last month as they were helping Armenian officials to improve the welfare of dogs in the capital, Yerevan.

An article on The Daily Mail told the story of animals abandoned at an “animal park” in the town of Gyumri that were fed fish and scraps of meat by a local poor couple who reportedly stumbled across the dilapidated site.

After a bit of reorganisation staff members - who help look after animals all over the world - landed back at Armenia yesterday morning to help relocate the family to a temporary sanctuary.

Managing director James Florence said: “It was pretty urgent to get out there,” adding that when staff first found the large cats they were approximately half their ideal body weights.

“We thought we have got to get them out of there,” Mr Florence added. “They were showing signs of mental illness which you would expect.”

Bears were also found to be living on the land alongside the lionesses but have since been moved to Yerevan Zoo, where there is no room for the lionesses.

Vet James Hood was accompanied by senior marketing officer James Holden to move the trio - who have been living apart - to a new purpose-built temporary sanctuary funded by the practice. It is hoped the sanctuary will form part of their rehabilitation and “improve their quality of life”, Mr Florence added.

It is hoped Mery and her daughters will be relocated to the UK permanently within the coming months.

Now the team are calling on donations from the public to help raise the remaining £18,000 of their £46,000 target to continue caring for the cats and any other animals requiring help at the sanctuary in the future.

He said: “The aim is if we can help with these lionesses then we can start rescuing others in the future. We have fully-funded the sanctuary but the idea with the appeal is to continue the work so they can get the care they need.” Visit justgiving.com/WVS-lionsrescue for more information.