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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Alexandra Rucki

Meet Greater Manchester's top hero dog of lockdown - Hattie the Cocker Spaniel

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 her owner Andrew Bacon in Stretford, won the most votes from M.E.N readers after battling against 19 other dogs shortlisted for the title.

The pooch has accompanied Andrew to work every day since lockdown.

She assists with the facilities team at the Lancastrian Office Centre, located at the Old Trafford cricket ground.

Skeletal 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 (Manchester Evening News)

Hattie helps deliver the post around the building, and sometimes even receives some post herself from her fans.

The five-year-old spaniel has helped to drive the carpark 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."

Andrew added: "People in the office look forward to seeing her everyday.

Hattie has been accompanying her owner Andrew to work during the UK lockdown (Andrew Bacon)

"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.

Hattie with owner Andrew Bacon (Manchester Evening News)

"The postman comes everyday, 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."

Hattie wearing a hard hat and hi-vis jacket (Andrew Bacon)

We've teamed up with Butcher's to reward our Lockdown Dog Hero.

Our winner will now 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 £1500 towards a well-deserved 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 19 June until midnight on Monday 22 June.

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