KIND-HEARTED shoppers at a Johnstone store dug deep to raise money for an animal charity, writes Gregg Kelly. 

The team at the Johnstone Pet Shop, in Houstoun Court, hosted a special Easter raffle at the weekend in a bid to support Equine Rescue and Education SCIO, based in Howwood. 

Locals came out in force to back the cause, with many generously giving up the chance to win and instead simply donating their hard-earned cash to the fund. 

And thanks to the support of the people of the town, just under £100 was raised for the horse rescue charity.

Stacey Thomson, owner of the store, thanked customers for their generosity. 

She told The Gazette: “We can’t thank people enough.

“Even if they didn’t want to enter the raffle, people were simply coming to hand in a tenner.

“A total of 54 people entered and I couldn’t tell you how many people donated.” 

Caring staff at the store were able to run the raffle after local companies Henderson’s Flowers and Nikki’s Pet Services donated gifts for the day. 

Pet food manufacturer James Wellbeloved also got behind the draw and provided their own prize. 

The raffle was just one of the many ways the shop supports Renfrewshire’s forgotten pets and Stacey added: “We also collect food for animal food banks, because people sometimes forget that animals can end up hungry as well.

“People are so generous. Along with food, people hand in medicine for animals, whether it’s flea repellent for cats and dogs, hamster treatments, or fish treatments. Everybody wants to help.”

The draw was made by local resident John Caldwell. 

Jacques McPhail and Janice Muirhead were the lucky winners of the raffle.

If you would like to support the store, visit the Johnstone Pet Shop Facebook page. 

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