Most people love dogs, but very few have a soft spot for them quite like one little lad. Joshua Forster, from St Helens, Merseyside, has been visiting his local parks and dropping off plastic boxes filled with toys for owners to borrow when it's rainy.
Rather than carrying around soggy balls and chews, the savvy six-year-old wants dog walkers to dip into the treasure troves of toys he has dotted around.
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Joshua came up with the idea while out with his auntie Ainsley Corrigan and her Puggle Rex and Frockapoo Luna at Taylor Park.
He has since dropped off boxes filled with 10 toys a piece in two more parks, using his own money to pay for it all.
Ainsley, 27, said: "Every chance Josh gets, he comes round to my house to see my two dogs or asks if they can go to his for a sleepover - he tells everybody that they're his dogs.
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"I walk the dogs with him after school and one time it was a wet and rainy day and we were thinking that there should be a box to leave the dogs' toys in when they're a bit soggy.
"From then on Josh was determined to get a box, so we got lots of dog toys and a plastic box with his pocket money and put it on the hill of our local park.
"It lasted a couple of weeks before it was broken, but when I showed Josh a picture he just said 'oh well, let's just make another."
Year One pupil Josh usually leaves boxes at the entrance to a park, or somewhere people will be able to spot them.
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Inside it has a little message, which reads: "Feel free to use one for your furry friend but please return it in the end."
Ainsley and Joshua have since set up a Facebook page, with hundreds of dog owners messaging to thank the young entrepreneur for his kind idea.
A proud Ainsley said: "Someone messaged me personally and said how much Josh had touched her heart and she couldn't stand to see him upset about the broken box, so she bought a new one and filled it with toys for Josh to take back.
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"Since then, the response has been incredible - a man from London saw the post and sent an email with £30 worth of Amazon vouchers for more dog toys and an extra £25 for Josh to treat himself.
"I told Josh about the vouchers and he said 'maybe if we just use it all on the dogs, because going to the park with them is a treat for me'.
"I'm so proud, it's so nice to see - every day I get a message about the boxes and he's now got a proper hand in business."
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Joshua has even contacted local councils in the hope of placing more toy boxes at even more parks.
And after hearing about his love of dogs, the Kennel Club sent Joshua free tickets to attend Crufts in Birmingham last Sunday.
Josh's mum Natalie, 31, added: "We are all so proud of Josh - it's amazing to see that the bond he has with his Auntie Ainsley and her dogs has managed to become recognised within the community through such a lovely compassionate gesture!
"I'm lucky to have both a son and a sister who show everyone that it's nice to be nice, something we definitely need more of in the world!
"I would also like to thank everyone for the support he has received so far."
The little lad now hopes to inspire more people to take up the mantle and do their bit for their local communities.
Way to go, Josh.
Featured Image Credit: CatersTopics: UK News