A COURAGEOUS little girl who lost both her grandmother and father over the past nine months received some much-needed puppy love at her favourite charity thanks to the Christmas Wish appeal.

Nine-year-old Jodie Morse spent a busy morning at the Dogs Trust, in Salisbury, on Saturday, a place close to her and her late father’s heart.

The Oliver Tomkins pupil was nominated by her mother Helen Spencer, who hoped to make her first Christmas without her beloved dad as special and cheerful as possible.

“Jodie lost her grandma Patricia Morse to breast cancer last November and her beloved daddy died tragically in August,” said the 32-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett.

“It was going to be her first Christmas without her dad and I wanted something just for her.

“I filled out the form and didn’t really think about it but then I got a phone call to say she had won. I told her when she got back from school and she got very emotional.

“Since our family tragedies, we have had to move house and I have suffered depression, but she has been so strong and brave and I’m so proud of her.”

The ‘daddy’s girl’ stayed by her father’s side for four days in intensive care and was with him when he passed away.

“It was very sudden,” added Helen. “He was 42. She spent four days in intensive care with him, and she watched her dad die. She just kept going.

“She has just been worried about her grandfather and she worries about everybody else. Her dad was mad on dogs and the Dogs Trust is where they used to go and look after the dogs. So I thought it would be the perfect thing.

“It was just brilliant. The people there were so good with her. They treated her like she was a staff member.”

Jodie and Helen were driven to Salisbury by V-Cars Taxis.

Jodie got stuck in from the moment she walked through the Dogs Trust’s doors, cleaning kennels and playing with the little fur balls.

“I got to see all the dogs and, while they were having their walks, I got to clean the kennels out and change the bedding. I got to stroke the puppies, get pictures and cuddle up with them. It was lush. I loved it.

“When my mum told me I had won, she said ‘Can I talk to you?’ and I thought I was in trouble. I was really happy that my mum nominated me.”

Tomorrow: iPad mini wish comes true for Jada