As winter fell upon us, one resident of Shildon decided to create something nice for dogs being walked in Hackworth Park.
Delightfully nicknamed the Treat Tree, animal lover, Gina Smith and her two dogs, Benson and Butler, left sealed dog chews and wooden decorations with second hand dog toys for their four legged friends to enjoy.
Chatting with the Town Crier, she explained: “I just thought it had been a hard year with the cost of living going up and we perhaps had to sacrifice some goodies for our dogs to help make ends meet.
“I had bought my boys some new toys for Christmas and soon realised they had too many.
“After decorating my Christmas tree, I was inspired to do the same for the dogs in the park, so took the dog toys and tied treats to the tree.
“I just wanted to give a little back to our pets that give us so much.”
Gina, who says that she always tries to spread a little cheer, was thrilled when her post about the Treat Tree on Facebook took off with many residents thanking her for her kindness.
One dog owner commented: “My rescue dog didn’t take treats or play until we reached the dog treat tree!”
Due to the risk of infections, Gina was careful to mention that all the chews and treats were individually sealed and hung high off the branches to make sure all dogs were safe.
She added, “I love that fellow residents have contributed by adding their dog toys and treats to help spread the cheer.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
