A SUPERMARKET has introduced a pet food donation bin in support of an animal shelter. The bin, based at Tesco in Royston, is in aid of the Wood Green Animal Shelter at Heydon, which almost closed last year. The shelter is encouraging people to put pet foo

A SUPERMARKET has introduced a pet food donation bin in support of an animal shelter. The bin, based at Tesco in Royston, is in aid of the Wood Green Animal Shelter at Heydon, which almost closed last year. The shelter is encouraging people to put pet food of all varieties into the bin as well as treats and toys. There are already bins at Tesco in Milton, Saffron Walden, Bedford, Newmarket and Huntingdon, which shelter community fund-raiser Linda Arnold said had been successful. "People have either got animals and know our needs or just want to donate," she said. The shelter does not get any Government funding so it has to rely on charity donations. But costs for the shelter at Heydon exceeded £900-a-day - and donations are needed to ensure that it can keep operating in the future. Addo Addison, a Tesco employee and animal-lover, came up with the idea of a pet food donation bin after donating pet food to the shelter in Heydon. He said: "I love animals and have supported the shelter for a long time. I even got my cat from the shelter. "When it was under threat of closure I was devastated, so it's important we start supporting it." Mr Addison approached store manager Stuart Eyres and he was 100 per cent behind the initiative. Gay Baxter, manager at the Heydon shelter, said: "We really appreciate Addo's hard work. "It's wonderful Tesco is supporting us and we're all excited with this new link. It will make a big difference." Linda Arnold said: "We are hopeful that it will increase awareness for the needs of our Heydon Shelter and encourage other companies to help." People can drop pet food off at any of the shelters or send donations to Heydon by using its secure website at www.woodgreen.org.uk Any businesses who would like to sponsor the shelter should call Linda Arnold on 08701 904090 (ext 276) or e-mail linda.arnold@woodgreen. org.uk