A pair of distraught animal lovers have launched a desperate crusade to save their Moray doggie daycare business.
Sisters Meg Grant and Esther Riddell ploughed their savings into creating a haven for pets on Elgin’s Lossie Wynd.
But now, because the upstairs of the building is being converted into a flat, they will have to leave the premises by the end of October.
The women have said they can’t afford to relocate elsewhere, after exhausting their reserves by spending thousands of pounds refurbishing the former bookmakers.
Doolittle Doggy Daycare looks after more than a dozen canines every day, and offers work experience for people with learning difficulties.
Mrs Riddell left her job with Walkers shortbread to embark on the venture last November.
She lamented she was “heartbroken” at the prospect of being forced to abandon the business before it even reached its first anniversary.
Mrs Riddell added: “We spent all our savings on this venture, but the council has told us we can’t keep it, because they can’t allow dogs to be here with the flat upstairs.
“We feel so let down and this has been mentally draining for us.”
Moray Council responded that a daycare centre for dogs would “prove incompatible” with proposals to create a flat in the same venue.
Ms Grant described the premises as a “run-down shack” when they took over the tenancy, claiming the carpet was “covered in fag burns”, and the floorboards beneath it were “rotten”.
The pair spent £2,500 on new dog-friendly flooring and £1,000 on a reception area.
But Moray Council has advised them they did not have planning consent in place and, should they apply retrospectively, it would be refused because proposals for the flat have already been approved and would conflict with the centre.
Mrs Grant conceded that she and her sister were “naive” in proceeding with the refurbishment without making the correct arrangements, but accused the authority of failing to inform them of exactly what was required.
The women are now trying to find a new base and are fundraising to furnish it.
They have also appealed for anyone in the area with a suitable building to contact them.
A Moray Council spokesman added: “We are satisfied we followed all procedures correctly.”