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Helsbury Park has picked up a prestigious national award for its dedication to dogs…

From the Kennel Club

Helsbury Park, which offers luxury dog friendly holiday cottages in the heart of north Cornwall, has picked up a prestigious national award for its dedication to dogs and its unique offerings to man’s best friend.  The 5 star accommodation near Camelford received the most nominations from the public in the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs Awards, and took the lead to be crowned top dog in the Somewhere to Stay category.

Helsbury Park is situated between three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Bodmin Moor, the Camel Valley and the North Cornwall Coast – and is within easy reach of many dog friendly beaches, making it the perfect location to holiday in Britain with a dog.

Luxuries on offer to the cottages’ four-legged guests include deliveries of their favourite dog food and a local ‘dog whisperer’, a dog behaviour counsellor who can offer sessions in the comfort of the cottages.  Organic spa treatment packages are offered for human guests, who also have access to a luxury pool, sauna and gym.

The Open for Dogs competition – now in its seventh year – is based solely on the views of the public and aims to break down barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses to be dog friendly. Nominations came in from all over the country for the most welcoming dog friendly businesses, towns, and public places.

With over 28,000 canine-canny businesses listed on the Open for Dogs website, powered by Dog Friendly, competition was fierce. Thousands of nominations flooded in from dog lovers giving their paw of approval for the places that treat their dogs like royalty, or simply offer them a drink of water when they need it. Certain businesses stood out as being particularly dog-centric however.

David Wilson, owner of Helsbury Park, said: “We are thrilled to have won a Kennel Club Open for Dogs award.  Our customers, many of whom nominated us in the ‘Somewhere to Stay’ category mean a lot to us, and we appreciate the fact that they took the time to vote.  We love having guests bringing their dogs with them, and are proud to be a dog friendly place to stay.”

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, added: “Helsbury Park is a great example of the many businesses and public places that have already adopted a wonderfully dog-friendly atmosphere and are reaping the benefits of being open for dogs.

“They show that they are willing to go above and beyond for their customers and those businesses that welcome dogs are an important part of the British marketplace and are consistent with the UK’s love affair with dogs.  By offering a unique holiday experience, Helsbury Park is helping to ensure that dog owners across the country can holiday in the UK without worrying about having to leave their dog with someone else.”

With over 8 million dogs in the UK, and around one in four households owning a dog, the great British public are always on the look-out for places where their four-legged family members are also welcome, and the Open for Dogs Awards recognise businesses and places to visit that go that extra mile for our canine comrades.  More information on the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs campaign can be found at www.openfordogs.org.uk.

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