A playful puppy who has brightened the pandemic for shoppers at his owners' Liverpool newsagents is in the running to be named Britain's ultimate Lockdown Dog Hero.
Hunter, a 17-month-old cockapoo, has brought joy to the customers at Larkhill Newsagents in Clubmoor, helping them to feel less isolated.
Revealed as the Merseyside winner of our Lockdown Dog Heroes competition, he will now compete against other favourite pets from across the nation for the overall award.
Zara El-Gadhy, whose 13-year-old son Raheem is Hunter's owner, called for ECHO readers to make sure a Liverpool dog wins the national competition.
She said: "It would be great to have a Scouse winner. We keep getting stopped by people saying 'we saw the dog in the ECHO'.
"We had his picture on the counter and we're asking everyone who comes into the shop to vote for him.
"Everyone knows Hunter. He's more of a community dog - the shop mascot."
Vote for your Lockdown Dog Hero
Raheem, a pupil at Merchant Taylor's School, entered Hunter in the contest because of the happiness he has brought to himself and to regular customers during lockdown.
A whole range of local people have taken the dog out for a walk to help ease the loneliness of not seeing friends and family.
The Lockdown Dog Hero competition was launched to celebrate the ways in which our pets have helped us stay healthy and sane during the pandemic.
Hunter was chosen by the public from 20 regional finalists to win a £100 Butcher's voucher, courtesy of our partner family-run food for dogs company Butcher’s, and a place in the grand final to find Britain's ultimate Lockdown Dog Hero.
Our overall national winner will get a year’s supply of Butcher’s Nourishing Food For Dogs, and £1,500 towards a dog-friendly break with their hero.
