Dogs ring in Christmas at Swansea canine carol service

A carol service for dogs was conducted

A canine chorus rang in the festive season at a carol service for dogs.

The pets howled their way were through the tunes at charity Llys Nini RSPCA, in Penllergaer, Swansea.

Chairman of trustees Sally Hyman, from Baglan, in Neath Port Talbot, said beagles and basset hounds were among the best singers.

The 68-year-old said she was on a high after the "fantastic" evening, conducted by vicar John Gillibrand.

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She added: "Doesn't everybody have one of these? I think they should do, I'm still on a high from it.

"What it is, we team up with the local community and the local vicar, the Rev John Gillibrand. And we literally have a carol service with readings and carols. And people can come and people can bring their dogs."

A total of 56 canines came along to the event

"Everybody stayed for mince pies and a cuppa afterwards," Sally said.

"There were 56 dogs that were there who barked and wagged their tails and howled through the carols. It was just lovely."

The animals barked, howled and wagged their tails through the service

She believed the presence of Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi made the event like Prime Minister's Questions.

"It was like prime ministers question time, because Tonia was reading out one of the readings and all the dogs were going, 'woof-woof, woof-woof'," Sally said.

"It was just lovely and it didn't really matter the dogs making a noise or walking in or walking out or sniffing each other.

Llys Nini RSPCA's Sally Hyman said some dogs sang better than others

"It was just really was a feeling of Christmas with everybody just loving it and loving each other and loving the dogs and the dogs loving it."

But when it comes to singing not all dogs are equal.

Sally said: "Basset hounds are definitely the best. We didn't have one there today, but we have had one in the past who just howls all the way. Every time the organ plays a basset hound would howl.

The noisy service led to lot of attendees falling about laughing

"But today we had some beagles there that did a little bit of howling. But they're more soprano, rather than alto, so you know they weren't quite as good.

"We had lots of barking, and people just falling about laughing in the middle of the carol."

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