A DOG lover in Newton-le-Willows offers a special dog walking service.   

Andy Finney set up his dog walking business in 2018 and has since provided dogs in Newton with a service to exercise and make friends.

Andy had always been a dog lover before being inspired by his dog walker to take up the career himself.

He said: "We only set up four years ago. I had a dog walker and I’ve got two dogs myself, a brown Labrador and a Cockapoo, and this lady used to walk them, and I always used to look at her and think ‘do you know what, I would love that job.

"I’ve always had dogs; I absolutely love them."

St Helens Star: Andy has always been a dog lover and wanted to start his own service Andy has always been a dog lover and wanted to start his own service

The dog walker regularly takes the dogs down to the field near Alder Lane, where ball pits and obstacle courses are set up.

His business also hosts a Friday Fun Day, where Andy dresses up in a mascot costume. 

The 45-year-old added: "He’s our field mascot and he’s called Larry the Labrador. When it’s one of the dogs’ birthdays, I always sing happy birthday to them and then at Christmas we have Christmas parties, and all the dogs have a Christmas present each.

"Some days in the summer, we have a day at the field, and the owners and their dogs come down and we just all socialise.

"It’s like a massive family."

The dog lover also shared how dog owners came together to raise around £14,000 for one of the dogs to receive an operation.

There are currently 150 dogs listed with usually 10 dogs taken for a walk at a time.

Andy explained how dogs were also impacted by lockdown with some finding it difficult to spend time around new dogs.

He said: "Through lockdown, a lot of dogs were isolated and didn’t see other dogs.

"We had dogs who were quite timid, and they go on the field two or three times and then they come out of their shells.

"The dogs all have their own friends, so when they see each other, they go ‘that’s my friend’ and they all play with the same dog a different week."

St Helens Star: The dogs playing around in the field The dogs playing around in the field

For further information about the services Andy provides, visit Newton-le-Willows Dog Walking Facebook page.