Jollyes has opened its latest new store at Grimshaw Park, Lower Audley Street, Blackburn with retired service dogs Purdy, Orio and Norman, biting through a string of sausages to declare the store open.

And inspired by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s campaign to encourage dog owners to do the right thing, Jollyes offered the first 140 customers on opening day free ‘power poop’ bags that even come with a battery-style red reminder when the roll is about to run out.

Across the UK, Jollyes stores have given out almost 225,000 free poo bags to customers to encourage them to ‘bag it and bin it’.

Creating 12 roles, Jollyes has taken up residence in Blackburn close to Asda, B&M and Halfords and brings a frozen raw food ‘shop-in-shop’ for pet owner who want to take advantage of Jollyes’ wide range of frozen food, which is rapidly becoming the most popular way for owners to feed their dogs.

The opening by retired service animals is in support of its partnership with the National Foundation for Retired ServiceAnimals (NFRSA), helping them support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family – the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services.

Over the next 12 months, all Jollyes’ stores will be raising money for NFRSA with collections matched by Jollyes up to £20,000 that will help NFRSA support retired service animals and their owners.

Store manager Natalie Bentley thanked customers and partners for making the opening day such a success.

“We’re delighted to have brought Jollyes to Blackburn,” she said. “And in the months ahead the whole team here at the store can’t wait to bring their pet expertise to town alongside the kind of value that’s been making a real difference to pet parents right across the UK.”