Are these the most pampered pooches in Britain?
Chances are that they may be – because their owners all play for Manchester United.
A pet shop in Salford has been hounded by Reds stars after word spread through the Old Trafford dressing room that it was the place to pick up a puppy.
Dogs 4 Us has already sent away five United stars with pets - and more are likely to follow.
The link goes back to the days of David Beckham, according to Chris Hunter, who works at the store. And it continued this week when Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, known as Chicharito, became the Agecroft Road centre’s latest high-profile customer.
Chris, 43, said: “Beckham used to bring Brooklyn here to look at the dogs and Chicarito was here this week.
“He picked up an Old English Sheepdog. He said he had had chow chows in Mexico but he fancied a change.
“A lot of the staff are United fans so we were delighted to see him.
“He said that Chris Smalling had recommended him and he was really chatty. He posed with customers for pictures and was happy to sign autographs. We stayed open late for him so he could get all the accessories.”
Chris revealed that United’s Portuguese forward Nani was her favourite customer to date. She said: “He bought a chow chow and he was happy with it so he came back and got a yellow labrador. Antonio Valencia has also been in. He got a labrador and a cavalier for his daughter.”
United striker Wayne Rooney is another client. Chris said: “He came in back in 2008. He had a dogue de Bordeaux and Coleen came in later for a bichon frise.”
And it is not just the stars of Old Trafford who have made their way to the store.
Chris said: “Mario Balotelli came in and had two chow chows but a lot of the staff weren’t here and we were gutted to miss him.
“And Michelle Keegan from Coronation Street had her miniature daschund from here.”
Here's our Manchester United dogs XI:
1. Raymond Van Der Howl
2. Phil Bones
3. Gary Pal-lister
4. Yap Stam
5. Nicky Mutt
6. Darren Fetcher
7. Corgi Best
8. Hounderson
9. Collie Gunnar Solksjaer
10. Denis Paw
11. Bark Ji Sung
Subs: Paul Dogba, Eric Pantona, Andy Bitchie, Paul Bowls, Rabid May
Manager: Sir Alex Furgrrrrson
Can you do any better? Post your comments below.
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Man Utd 'Going to the Dogs'
Why not go to Harpurhey and rescue an abandoned dog from there ?
What a lot of woof-ters!
Any time I've been in this place the dogs look sad and listless....
'PAT' CRERAND
PETER 'SCHMEICHEL'
This is depressing.
All advice from vets and animal welfare specialists says that you should NEVER buy a puppy from a pet shop and that you should always go to a reputable, specialist breeder. Pet shop pups are generally supplied by puppy farms and you have no opportunity to see the environment in which the pups were born. Never buy puppies or kittens in a pet shop and always buy from a breeder who'll let you see the place where they were bred and where you'll see the puppies with their mother.
Better still, re-home a dog from The Dogs Trust or similar organisations where they will find you a dog suited to your lifestyle and needs that's also in need of a home... rather than buying yourself the latest pedigree 'status' breed.
this paper has gone to the dogs... I'll get me coat.
Disgusting. Do they have no morals and not know the awful truth about puppy farming?
http://www.dogs-r-us.org/
This is a disgrace and setting a terrible example - there are thousands of abandoned dogs in the dogs home, and to go to a place such as the old notorious 'Mayfiend Kennels' is just going to make this problem worse. Shame on those footballers.
A dog is for life, not just a fashion statement.
This stupid (and pointless) article will just encourage people to go out and copy their hero's.
Expect Harpurhey dogs home to have a busy January.....
I know you try and find something positive to say about the self awarded "best team in the world" at any opportunity but isnt this taking things a bit far ...whats up ? was r Coleeeeen not out last night or something ? ...but then again looking at these pictures there does seem a similarity .........
Wow! without a doubt cutest in all of the pictures is Javier Hernandez's sister.
Nice choice Rooney it even looks like you
Do the united players not know what a puppy farm is?
United have bought quite a few pups over the years!
Getting a puppy from that place in nothing to shout about. It shouldnt be legal to buy puppies from so called puppy supermarkets
If you decide a pedigree puppy is for you then you should take your time to find a breed that suits your situation and lifestyle, visit a reputable, responsible breeder- contact a breed society and they can help you. You should be able to see the pups with their mum and see they are well looked after and cared for.
Personally I dont know of ANY decent breeder who would send their pups to a place like that to be sold to anyone regardless of if they have a good home waiting.
DO YOU HOMEWORK FIRST PEOPLE- a pet love certificate is NOT a pedigreee!!!!
If you dont mind a cross breed then why not rehome a dog, there are even pedigree dogs in need of rehoming?
Have UNITED players never heard of puppy farms before?!!!!
So five United players have bought a dog from there? Not even half of the team. What's next, the bank where the players have walked into, or the supermarket they all shop at?
How long did you spend coming up with the woeful dog puns this afternoon MEN? Cutting edge journalism in action.
Is this an advert by Dogs4us as they had those protectors outside yesterday about puppy farming?
When are they going to start selling sick swans
My last comment did not get passed by the mods, maybe it was too long.
This time I will be brief. Dogs4us mention Michelle Keegan as a customer so it is only fair that people do an internet search on "Michelle Keegan" and "puppy farm"
far better to pick the right type of dog for you and your family, and then go to a breed specific breeder where you can see the parents of the dog your buying, but then they would have stricter buying rules than mayfield kennels, sorry I mean dogs r us, you can change the name but not the history
Fabulous men , ooh look lets get a pup for christmas.The timing of this could`nt be worse.
when i first heard about dogsrus my stomach churned, not toys are us. not a comodity.
There should be a high license fee for breeding dogs and I couldnt agree more with the comments below.
I do like Rabid May. To be fair distemper often got the better of him
And the sooner we sign Schnauzer the better