DOGS and cats in shelters will have a Christmas to remember thanks to generous Sarah Gagen.

She started a shoebox appeal last year, which sees treat and gifts collected for the animals.

Last year, 87 were handed out to shelters across Swindon and Wiltshire.

This year she hopes to make the appeal bigger and better.

Sarah, 31, of Tawhill said: “I’ve seen the Christmas shoeboxes for children and I wondered if we could do something for cats and dogs.

“I didn’t realise it would turn into something so big as last year we had 87 and this year it’s looking to be over 100.”

She was not expecting the response to be so big but was happy that everyone wanted to cheer up animals spending Christmas in shelters. Sarah told the Adver: “I was overwhelmed by the responsey.

“I had a little cry because it validated what I was doing – it’s really heartwarming.”

All the treats and gifts will be put into a shoebox and wrapped in Christmas paper. Then they will be split between Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Cat Rescue Chippenham and Swindon Caring Hearts.

She will be collecting the last donations on December 1 at Sainsbury’s in Wootton Bassett at Borough Fields Shopping Centre between 10am and noon. Then she will be at Sainsbury’s, Paddington Drive, Swindon, between 2pm and 4pm.