A day centre for dogs in Mansfield has been launched to help man's best friends develop their own lifelong friendships.
The Mansfield Doggy Day Care Centre, on Hermitage Lane, is the first dedicated centre of its kind in the area - with treats, toys and food tasks on offer for the canine guests.
The centre, launched in February, is being run by Nathan Edge - a blind campaigner for charity Guide Dogs for the Blind who has a big love for dogs.
Nathan, 25, completely lost his sight in 2014 over the space of two days after a prolonged eye disease, and ever since has been a spokesman for the guide dogs charity.
However, wanting a new challenge in his life, Nathan has helped set up the day care centre with the goal of developing friendships among the dogs and providing them with "a home routine away from home".
The centre has a play area, outdoor space, a ball pit and toys for the dogs to enjoy and is targeted at pet owners who either do not want to leave their dogs at home, or who want their pets to develop bonds with other dogs.
Nathan said: "We're the first one in the area and we've got three large sections within the centre, all tailored to dogs with different personalities.
"It's filled with loads of fun things and playing equipment. The dogs have loads of different toys to play with and puzzles which bring treats. It's all about making them feel comfortable.
"The idea came about through both my love and understanding of guide dogs and because there's a need for this service.
"We have artificial grass outside so the dogs get access to fresh air, and have a home routine away from home.
"The service is for people who work and who don't want to leave their dogs at home, or even for people who want their dogs to have fun with other dogs. We also offer dog walking and home services."
Nathan's own guide dog Abby is a regular guest at the centre. The campaigner's idea for the day care centre came about after his previous guide dog, Hudson, retired.
The Forest Town man says each dog has to be assessed before they can come to the centre, to ensure they are comfortable with the new environment and to make sure they are friendly.
He added: "This is for the protection of other dogs, and for our staff too. It's a new environment that they might not have been in, so we assess how they react to the service.
"We have the same dogs coming on the same days each week, and it's interesting to see these friendships develop.
"So far it's been really amazing to see the dogs becoming best friends, and it's really good to see how each dog progresses with every session."
Dog owners who want to use the service can request an assessment on the centre's website here.
