Dog toy exchange set up on Lytham St Annes beach in memory of pet

A dog owner has set up a toy exchange on a beach in memory of her pet who died.

Bethany Short has donated her dog Biscuit’s old balls and chewy toys and established Biscuit’s Ball Exchange, a wooden crate decorated in paws left on Lytham St Anne’s North Beach in Lancashire for other dog walkers to use.

She said it felt wrong to put the toys into storage and she left about 100 balls there to “bring joy” to other animals.

“We wanted them to create happy memories for other people,” she said, adding: that she “cherished” her time on the beach with her dog.

Ms Short said she could never have imagined the impact Biscuit, who died in May, would have had on her life.

“I got Biscuit in 2011 when I was a teenager, as a rescue,” she said.

“When you take on a dog you commit to them being an important family member but I never could have anticipated him becoming the centre of mine and my husband’s world, even being the ring bearer at our wedding.”

She added: “When it came time to re-home Biscuit’s toys, it felt wrong to just put them away in storage, we wanted them to bring joy to other dogs and create happy memories for other people.”

The toy exchange is located on the cut through from the St Anne’s North Beach car park to the seafront.

The sign encourages dog walkers to “take a ball for your dog to enjoy, feel free to keep it or pop it back afterwards”.

It added: “Enjoy every moment together for they are never enough.”

The tribute at the end of the sign read: “In memory of Biscuit (2006-2025).

“He loved this place almost as much as he loved balls.”