Hattie’s our top lockdown dog
M.E.N. READERS VOTE COCKER SPANIEL CHAMPION HERO POOCH
THE votes are in and the winner of Greater Manchester’s top hero dog of lockdown can be revealed as Hattie the cocker spaniel.
Hattie, who lives with owner Andrew Bacon in Stretford, won the most votes from M.E.N. readers after battling against 19 other dogs shortlisted for the title.
Hattie has accompanied Andrew to work every day since lockdown.
She assists with the facilities team at the Lancastrian Office Centre at the Old Trafford cricket ground.
Some staff have been working in the office building during the coronavirus crisis, so Hattie has been putting a smile on the faces of those still coming into work.
Hattie helps deliver the post around the building, and even receives mail from her fans.
The five-year-old spaniel has helped to drive the car park sweeper and wears her own hi-vis jacket.
Andrew, 57, has since set up a Facebook page to capture Hattie’s adventures, which has helped to boost morale of staff at the office.
He told the M.E.N: “I can’t believe she has won. I am really overcome with emotions. The customers here said you must enter. They said you have got to put her in.
“People in the office look forward to seeing her every day, she lightens up this terrible time. I needed to show her off to everybody because she is amazing. She goes on trains and even boats, wearing a life jacket. She is a star. Hattie has been so happy to come to work with me and brings joy to everybody that is in at the moment. The postman comes every day, she jumps in the back of the van to collect it. She even has her own deliveries.
“Staff smile when they see her in the morning. If they are having a tough day they come down and find her. They come to stroke her and it helps with stress.
“I didn’t really train her, she knew what to do. When she was a puppy she used to do things a puppy shouldn’t know.
“She has adventures every day, she is always up to something new.”
The M.E.N. teamed up with Butcher’s to reward our Lockdown Dog Hero. Our winner will receive a £100 Butcher’s voucher, as well as being entered into our national final with a chance to win a year’s supply of Butcher’s Nourishing Food For Dogs and £1,500 towards a dog-friendly holiday.
There will be a total of 22 Lockdown Heroes from across Britain in the national final, and you can vote for the winner from 00.01 on Friday, June 19, until midnight on Monday, June 22.