Skipton's 'dog treat lady' surprised by canine canalside tributes

Angela Heather organised the special tribute in Skipton for her grandmother Irene Longstaff, 89

A dog-lover with dementia was left "blown away" after being surprised by over 30 canines and their owners wanting to pay tribute to her.

Irene Longstaff, 89, is well known in Skipton for spoiling people's dogs with treats on her daily canalside walks.

But her granddaughter, Angela Heather, said as Ms Longstaff must now move to a residential home, she deserved a treat.

A "steady stream" of pets and owners came along to greet her while on a walk on Saturday, Ms Heather said.

The response to the invitation for people to come along and pay tribute to Ms Longstaff, known locally as the "dog treat lady", had been "incredible", Ms Heather said.

Ms Longstaff was surprised by over 30 dogs and her owners paying tribute to her during a recent walk

"Those without pets who have known her over the 23 years she's lived here, or who used to be neighbours, as well as those whose dogs had passed away, all had lovely things to say about her," she added.

"There were 60-plus humans, a steady stream over the hour we were out there, with about 35 dogs.

"Some people came without dogs and some people borrowed dogs. Nan was given bunches of flowers and treats herself."

A Skipton Canal Tours boat also blew its horn in tribute to Ms Longstaff as it passed by.

Ms Heather, 47, who has been her grandmother's carer for four years, said Ms Longstaff had been "blown away" by the surprise.

She said: "Irene is the animal lover who hasn't been able to manage having her own dog for years now, so instead she spoils everyone else's canines."

Ms Longstaff is known as the "dog treat lady" as she spoils the animals she meets while on her regular canalside walks