A 13-year-old Labrador-cross has enjoyed a VIP experience at Pets at Home in Bicester during his final days.

Buddy had led a sheltered life until severe health deterioration prompted his owners, Paul and Sara, to seek a unique farewell for him.

Buddy's extreme reactivity to other dogs had resulted in a life without much contact.

Sara said: "His reactivity meant that he couldn’t lead the life normal dogs have.

"No long walks. No Sunday lunches in the village pub.

"He absolutely couldn’t go anywhere if there was the faintest chance he’d encounter another dog – which obviously made trips to the vet a bit awkward and visits to Pets at Home impossible."

Facing the inevitability of Buddy's passing due to old age compounded by crippling arthritis and muscle-wastage, Paul and Sara wished for something special for their dog's final hurrah.

Sara said: "We knew Buddy’s time was drawing to a close, so we wanted him to have one last hurrah before he went to sleep for the last time.

"So, with a little bit of planning and a lot of help from the store team, Buddy was welcomed to Pets at Home Bicester and given the run of the store."

He freely roamed the store, discovered new scents he had never encountered before, and was treated to a plentiful supply of treats laid out for him by the staff.

Sara said: "He ate approximately half his body weight in treats that the staff had lovingly ‘hidden’ around the place for him to find. And he rightly got treated like the VIP he was.”

Paul said: "As I walked in, I clocked the staff had laid out a sheet of paper on the floor that spelled out ‘Hello Buddy’ in treats.

"Once I saw that I just went to pieces and burst into tears.

"Because he had led such a sheltered life out of necessity, he’d never had the opportunity to experience all the smells and enjoyment of Pets at Home like other dogs so it was so great that we got to do that for him.”

Lisa, the stores assistant manager, added: "The minute Buddy walked in the shop, we all welled up.

"It really was a team effort, and we were so happy to be able to do something special for him."

Paul and Sara were incredibly touched by the kindness shown by Lisa and the team and took to social media to express their gratitude.