DOGS WELCOME IN SHOPPING CENTRE

SHOPPING CENTRE ALLOWING PETS IN PERMANENTLY FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF TRIAL

OWNERS of well-trained dogs will now be able to take their pets shopping with them at Highcross.

The Leicester shopping centre has announced it is now dog-friendly, following a month-long trial.

A number of shops will also allow well-behaved dogs inside. All those participating will display a sticker on their window. Services such as water bowls will be available.

Jo Tallack, senior general manager at Highcross, said: “We’re always looking at how we can enhance our customer experience.

“Over the past year there has been a surge in pet ownership and we wanted to make the lives of owners a bit easier, particularly those worried about leaving their new dog at home alone.

“Many of our brands are already dog-friendly so we hope that, like our customers, our four-legged companions can also enjoy a great day out.

“There are some guidelines in place to ensure this and we do ask owners to take responsibility for their dogs and ensure Highcross continues to be a great destination for others.”

The rules are:

■ Dogs must be kept on a nonextendable static lead at all times;

■ Dogs are not permitted on escalators;

■ If an accident happens, owners must clean up after their dog;

■ Dogs must not be left unattended. According to the Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association, since the start of the pandemic, 3.2 million UK households have acquired a pet.

There are now 34 million pets in homes across Britain, including 12 million dogs.