DOGS Trust is to open a charity shop in Salisbury.

It has taken out a nine-year lease on the former Mole Hole craft shop in Crane Street.

The charity has just appointed a manager, Caroline Pugh, whose 11-year-old Westie, Archie, will be the store’s mascot.

It hopes to be in business by the end of this month, with a grand celebrity opening planned for early December.

Now it is looking for volunteer helpers and donations of goods for sale.

Supporter relations officer Leslie Carley said: “We are very excited about the project.

“Dogs Trust already has a few shops near some of its rehoming centres, and this will make it really easy for people locally to support us, as well as raising awareness of our work.

“We believe we will make a real go of it, but we will be relying so much on the generosity of the public.

All the stock in the shop will be donated goods, and all the money raised will go directly to looking after the dogs in the trust’s care.

“We have already been given a lot of wonderful clothes, as well as books, DVDs and jewellery, and some lovely framed drawings of dogs to sell.

“Of course we’ll be stocking doggie things like feeding bowls and toys as well, and all sorts of Christmas stuff.”

Friendly dogs will be welcome in the shop, and Archie will be meeting and greeting.

For Caroline, the shop is part of a change of lifestyle. She used to work in property sales in London, and recently moved to Warminster.

“After dealing with city fat cats, I just wanted to do something completely different and put a bit back into society,” she said.

The shop will be open six days a week, staying open until 6pm on Thursdays. Anyone wanting to donate goods can take them to the rehoming centre at Newton Tony.

Would be volunteers can contact Leslie on 01980 629853.