Zak the collie, who raised thousands of pounds for charity through his owners’ shops in Keswick and Ambleside, has died weeks after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The news of his death was announced on Zak’s social media accounts by owners Adrian and Jean Harmer, who run the Cherrydidi gift shop in St John’s Street, Keswick.
Zak, who had a distinctive half-black and half-white face, was familiar to many people in the town centre where there is a collection box figure of him outside the Cherrydidi shop.
The shop also sells many of Zak’s own personalised branded items, like mugs, prints and clothing, much of which is ethically produced and show his distinctive split-face collie marking.
His owners have been overwhelmed by the kind messages, cards and flowers they have received from Zak’s supporters since his death. Some people have even left flowers at the foot of the Zak-shaped collection box outside the shop.
They have also received gifts from artists and makers who sell goods through Cherrydidi, some of which produce branded items for Zak’s Lakeland Legacy.
Thousands of pounds have been raised through this fund over the years which has been donated to the Search and Rescue Dog Association and the Border Collie Trust.
Adrian said: “We will all miss him so much. Once in a generation, a dog comes along who is so special and he was just that.
“We heard in February he had cancer and had only weeks to live. Lots of people, including children, would take time out to talk to him if he was at the shop — or even just pat the head of his figure outside the shop.”
He died on April 12 after a final walk on one of his favourite areas by Brotherswater.
The family faced a dilemma about whether to continue with fund-raising from Zak’s legacy range. They put it out on social media and came back with a positive response to continue the fundraising in Zak’s memory.
Zak’s Lakeland Legacy has raised nearly £10,000 for the two charities so far and he has thousands of followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.