THE owner of an online shop that sells natural dog treats is 'over the moon' that the businesses is a finalist in the 2024 Animal Star Awards - and it has only been running a year.

Basingstoke-based Odin's Snack Shop has been announced as a finalist for the Best Pet Related Business or Online Store for the Southern region. 

Amy Heyes, who runs the business, named it after her own pooch, one-year-old Odin.

Amy said: "We are delighted to have been nominated in the first instance, but to have reached the finals for Best Pet Related Business or Online Store really is amazing! Especially seeing how wonderful the other nominees and finalists for our category are.

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Basingstoke Gazette: Amy and one-year-old Odin

"We are very grateful for the opportunity. Mary, the founder of Animal Star Awards, rang me to give me the good news. I opened Odin's just over a year ago, ensuring my new puppy at the time was only eating the products which are beneficial to him was my priority."

The Animal Star Awards, which are held annually, were created in 2016 to give recognition to animals and humans alike for the extraordinary things they do for one another. 

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Amy added: "I spent a long time researching and expanding my knowledge, and that's when Odin's was created. Odin is my dog, and enjoys playing the oh so important role of chief taste tester and quality control. We do a lot behind the scenes here, we support and donate to lots of animal charity's and rescues, we both also volunteer for Drone SAR for lost dogs UK.

"Odin is currently training to be a scent tracking dog, to support in finding missing/trapped dogs. We will continue to strive to deliver the best."

The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 26.

For more information about the business, visit odins-snack-shop.co.uk or find it on Facebook by searching Odin's Snack Shop.