His owner, Karen Winrow, who runs Rainbows Dog Grooming parlour in Mesnes Street, Wigan, has dyed him pink to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Karen will run the Race For Life at Haigh Hall this weekend with six-year-old daughter Amy and her former work colleague Pauline Garside, 46, from Pemberton.

Pauline's granddaughters Lauren Greenhalgh, seven, and six-year-old Megan Cartwright, will also do the fund-raising race.

And little Jake will stick out in the crowds with his pink fur, giving a friendly bark to cheer the pair on at the race on Sunday.

Karen, 44, from Hawkley Hall, said: "He has turned out a really vibrant pink colour. He was fine about it.
"He's been pink before for my wedding and he had love hearts for Valentine's Day.

"Everytime someone comes in they ask if it is a real dog. He just looks like a cuddly toy at the minute.

"Customers have been really shocked and taken photos of him."
Karen, a mother of two, felt particularly strongly about raising money for Cancer Research UK as her 15-year-old dog, Tramp, died from lymphocytoma cancer in 2002.

She added: "He was a lovely dog. He used to have chemo every week and he never bothered.

"My husband's mum died of breast cancer and there's cancer in Pauline's family.
"It's one of the illnesses we feel strongly about. It affects everybody.

"We have been to the vets and seen sad cases where animals have been affected by this as well."

To help raise money, the grooming parlour is offering a small donation to Cancer Research UK for each dog groomed.

Local vet Luc Van Dijck, based on Wigan Lane, has also offered to
donate some money to the fund-raising.