The family of a 90-year-old man from Lawn wants fellow dog owners to form an honour guard at his funeral.

Walter Leslie Emery was known locally as the Dog Man because of his unwavering love for man’s best friend.

He’d always stop and say hello and give a treat to every dog he saw and his pockets were full of dog treats. Local dogs got to know him so well they would sit and wait for a biscuit.

He died on November 11 and his family has come up with the guard of honour as a way to honour him.

His granddaughter-in-law Em Winslow posted an appeal on social media for dog owners to turn up at 1.45pm on December 10 and line the route to give him a proper send off.

She wrote: “As he loved dogs so much I thought it would be a lovely idea if people who own dogs in the area would line Dorchester Road to send him off in style.”

Em said her dog Frank, a Jack Russell chihuahua cross was spoiled by him the entire time.

“When we moved in with him our dog Frank gained a few naughty pounds from all the treats.”

“Walt used to give him so many treats that the vet had a few things to say.”

His daughter-in-law Belinda Winslow said that Walter aways had a strong affection for dogs of all shapes and sizes

“Walt’s first love was dogs, big, small, cute or fierce, he loved them all,” she said.

“His filing cabinet in his office was full up with dog biscuits and when he went out for a walk he would ask permission from the owners if their dog could have a biscuit, or three.

“Dogs would run and sit at his feet waiting for a biscuit and so he got himself the name of Dog Man.

“In later years he would stand in the garden waiting for the dogs to pass so they could have a biscuit.

She added: “He and his wife Vene would look after our family dog Holley whenever they had a chance and they looked after the neighbours’ dogs Ginnie and Buster too.”

Walter worked for Southern Railways as a pattern maker after an apprenticeship that started in 1947 followed by two years of national military service in the Royal Artillery from 1952 and time in the reserves.

His family is now hoping that as many people as possible will be able to bring their pooches down to line the route for the cortege.

“His family is very small but even so it will mean the world to us and be a very touching tribute to Walt the Dog Man. God rest his soul,” Belinda added.