Christmas came early for the residents of Manchester Dogs Home in Cheshire when a winter wonderland grotto was set up for them.
The snow-covered space featured a giant gingerbread house made entirely from 2,000 dog biscuits, 1,600 chewy treats, 12 kilos of dog choc drop melts and 24 pup-friendly stockings.
The four-legged friends reacted with delight at the unusual festive décor.
Anna Stansfield, speaking on behalf of the dogs’ home, said of the event created by wilko, “We were blown away when we got the surprise opportunity to welcome the grotto to our site for a festive celebration.
“We have more than 60 dogs here that are looking for loving homes – many won’t be adopted before Christmas, so this is a brilliant second-best.
“The pets have all had a brilliant day, and to be honest I think we have as well, seeing how much joy it’s brought them.”
A survey of 2,000 dog owners by wilko also found an average of £27 pounds is spent per-pooch on gifts over the festive season.
And more than one in 20 will shell out upwards of £100 on their beloved hound, with an average of three gifts bought per dog.
The most common Christmas present for furry companions is a dog chew (70 per cent) followed by a chewy toy (62 per cent) and a stuffed animal (57 per cent).
More than two-thirds of dog owners will even take the trouble to wrap their pet’s special presents, to ‘unwrap’ on Christmas morning.
And a quarter even confessed to spending more on their pet than they have on some friends or family members.
More than half – 58 per cent – encourage friends and family to spend money on a present for their pet to open on December 25th, according to the wilko’s data.
When it comes to Christmas dinner, one in five pampered pooches are treated to their own specially-made plate, while 20 per cent of owners allow their dog to have a seat at the table.
A quarter also writes their furry friend’s name on Christmas cards, as if they’ve had a hand – or a paw – in writing it.
A third genuinely believe their dog is aware of Christmas Day when it happens, and half make a special effort to include their pet in the festivities.
Daniel Bingham, senior buyer for pets for wilko said, “Most of us will be having a very merry Christmas and as a retailer that sells gifts for all the family, we know that a major portion of the nation will be purchasing presents for their pets. But we also know that won’t be the case for a lot of less fortunate pets in rescue shelters and homes.
“Our survey results found Brits are willing to go the extra mile to really spoil their pets at Christmas, be it via gifts or even sitting at the dinner table, but there are still so many that deserve love.
“We were happy to do our bit to bring some festive cheer to Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home, and hopefully some of these beautiful dogs will soon enjoy a Christmas with a loving family.”
