An initiative set up to encourage pet pooches to parade a poppy to support servicemen and women looks set to raise £2,000 for charity.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Bentley LincolnBentley Lincoln (Image: Archant)

Jill Asquith from Willingham, near Beccles, is running the Poppies 4 Paws Appeal and is asking owners to donate money to the Suffolk branch of the Royal British Legion in return for a special clip-on poppy for their canine friends to wear.

All people need to do to support the Poppy Appeal is to give a donation in return for a poppy - and clip it on their dog’s collar or harness. Money will go towards providing lifelong support for the armed forces community.

Ms Asquith, who is operating the appeal from Wangford Veterinary Clinic where she works, said the poppies were all snapped up in the first couple of days after the campaign launched and more had to be ordered.

She said: “I just can’t believe the response the appeal has had. Lovely people from all over East Anglia have contacted me to ask if I could send poppies out to them.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Buddy FinchBuddy Finch (Image: Archant)

“Locally too, people want to get on board and support the appeal and come in to pick up poppies to take back for friends and colleagues. The poppies all went in the first couple of days, I have had a large delivery since then and there’s more on the way, plenty enough for lots more doggies.

“I have set myself a target figure to aim for of £2,000 to hand over to the charity on November 11, that’s not to say we can’t exceed that figure, but realistically that’s the figure I would like to reach.”

Ms Asquith is also selling and collecting donations for copies of her father Brian’s book Long Time, No W.C, which is his account of five years in captivity as a prisoner of war.

The poppies are available from Wangford Veterinary Clinic, Hardimans in Lowestoft, TempleWicks and Cracks Pet Foods in Beccles, the Farm Shop in Wangford; Barking Mad Dog Training School in Mettingham and Short Bark and Sides in Wrentham.

And Ms Asquith is encouraging people to send in photos of their poppy-wearing pets to upload on their website. Visit http://www.wangfordvetclinic.com/gallery/17409/gallery-poppies-on-paws to view some of the photos sent in so far.

If you would like to have poppies and a collection box in your place of work, club or similar call Ms Asquith on 01502 578999.