An Exeter pet shop that will close after 53 years is to give away free gifts to homeless dogs.
Exeter Pet & Garden, on Sidwell Street, will shut on Christmas Eve, but will help the animals before closing its doors forever.
But before closing, Janice revealed that not only will homeless dogs receive free gifts, there will be a half-price sale on everything.
The sale starts on Thursday, December 20, as does the free gifts to the dogs.
Janice told Devon Live that she has done the nice gesture for several years, which has always attracted several dogs.
She said: “I’ve always done it for homeless dogs. I used to have spare bags of dog food which I would give to them.
“There are a lot of homeless people in Exeter, they are all nice. We’ve had quite a few dogs come in, most have lost their leads.”
Among the free gifts for the dogs will be a bag of dog food, a lead, and a toy.
The free gifts, and the sale, will run until Janice closes the shop on Christmas Eve.
She announced the shop would shut last month, and has been overwhelmed with messages of support and thanks from customers.
“I’m upset,” she said. “I’m going to miss it, it’s been my life.
“I’ll miss the people, miss the buzz, and of course the animals.
“I have had so many well wishes from people. It is nice.”
Having opened the store in 1963, David Buckland built up a loyal customer base specialising in traditional pet supplies and animals including tropical fish, parrots and other exotic birds.
David and Janice ran the shop together for 34 years before David's death at the age of 74 in 2017.
