A 'barking mad' dog-lover asked for just one present for Christmas from all her friends and family.. dog food!
Kate Blackett, a 32-year-old florist, who has lived in Harefield all her life, asked for the unusual gift to help stray dogs overseas.
She told getwestlondon : “I had the idea to collect dog food about three months before Christmas when I started to collect three tins of dog food every week for my favourite dog charity 'Paws 4 Rescue'.
“After a few weeks of collecting it, I thought to myself I need so much more and I need it quickly so I sent a text to all of my family and friends saying: 'Please just buy me dog food this Christmas instead of presents!' and they all did, even though they all think I'm barking mad!”
Ms Blackett then took to Facebook to take her plea one step further – and was inundated with canine chow.
She said: “The response was incredible, I've had people from as far away as Cornwall and Newcastle sending food!
“At the moment I have around 300 extra large tins, around 100 standard size tins plus 10 huge bags of dried food and lots of other packets of biscuits and blankets.
The florist, who owns White Rose Floral Design in Rickmansworth, has been a huge animal lover all her life and currently has two rescue dogs herself.
Ms Blackett chose to support 'Paws 4 Rescue', based in Murcia, Spain, after following their Facebook page a year ago.
She said: “I always support the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust but I wanted to extend that support overseas, as the issue of animal welfare is an even bigger problem over in countries like Spain where it is not uncommon to see stray dogs and cats dying of starvation on the streets.”
Ms Blackett is inviting dog-lovers to donate food, blankets, leads, collars or worming treatment by emailing her at whiterosefd@hotmail.co.uk.
She added: “Paws 4 Rescue are always looking for foster homes here in the UK, so even if you can't offer a dog a permanent home maybe you could consider fostering one.
“If anyone would like to adopt any of the dogs then that really is the best gift in the world for a homeless dog."
