POSING pups are gracing the pages of a charity calendar.
The calendar, which features former police animals, celebrates the work of Lancashire police dogs are is being sold by a group set up by a Whalley woman.
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Sheila Maw, from the Retired Lancashire Police Dogs Benevolent Fund, said she hoped the 2015 calendar would raise plenty of money to support working dogs who have given up their day job.
She said: “The dogs thoroughly enjoyed having their pictures taken and they loved being the centre of attention. Once they retire, they know they are off duty and they just love doing things like this.
“They were not coerced into anything, not even the one that is playing the piano. He thought it was brilliant banging on the keys.”
Among the pretty pictures are German shepherd Kira, who hopped on a sit-on lawnmower for September’s snap, and Labrador Chesney, who enjoyed a spot of knitting for July’s page.
Sheila said it was important lots of money was raised to continue supporting the animals after retirement.
She added: “In most cases, the handler keeps the dogs when they retire. A lot of them say they have bigger bonds with their dogs than with their families, which I can believe because the dog might have saved their handler’s life or saved them from being injured.
“If they don’t go to a handler, we find a good home.
“The dogs retire through old age or through injury in some cases. But when they retire, that is the end as far as funding from the constabulary is concerned. They do not get a pension.
“That is why we started the charity 10 years ago.”
The calendars cost £7 and are available from most police stations, as well as Hatty Boos dog salon, in Whalley Road, Clitheroe, Healthy Option Pet Shop, Barrow, and Whalley Corn Mills. Contact 01254 823136 for details.
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