FOR almost a quarter of a century our four-legged friends in the north of the county have been catered for by Fluffy Paws Pet Supplies.

But the pet shop in Bucknell Road, Bicester, is the latest high street trader to lose out to internet shopping.

Rob Douglas has dedicated eight years of his career to growing Fluffy Paws Pet Supplies, but has decided to bow out as the pressure of the internet continue to hit Bicester's traders.

The pet shop is the latest in a long line of stores that have closed, with owners saying they are unable to compete with online competitors.

J and K Tackle in Sheep Street blamed web shopping when it announced that it was set to close next month.

Mr Douglas, 50, said: "It has been great and such a good learning curve for me as I had never been in marketing and sales.

"I have loved growing it as a business, it is just a shame that the internet has destroyed us as people shop more online.

"Also, supermarkets are becoming the main retailer for pet supplies where there may be more choice and people feel they may be cheaper.

"Then manufacturers have had to move more into wholesalers and pet supermarkets as units are closing down.

"It is mostly something the shop has noticed over the past 12 months.

"More people just need to support local businesses or they will lose them."

The shop started 24 years ago as Fluffy Paws and Green Fingers, before dropping the garden maintenance side of the business to focus solely on animals.

Now, Mr Douglas – the proud owner of a dog, four cats and a cockatoo – has continued to grow the business, attracted a dedicated following and bagged nearly 1,000 followers for the shop online.

He said: "I had always been in quality and regulatory management and was being made redundant in an industry which was moving towards manufacturing overseas.

"I saw the shop had come up for sale and thought 'why not?'

"I have always had a love for animals, as well as charity, and the shop was something that brought all that together."

Mr Douglas, who is also the president of the Beerhounds Motorcycle Club, has staged an annual charity motorcycle run to help support Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary.

The annual run has seen dozens of petrol heads get together year-on-year to ride in convoy and deliver pet supply donations and funding to the charity.

Mr Douglas said he will examine at how he can continue organising after the pet shop closes.

He said: "I am upset to be closing and will miss all the customers and regulars that have supported me and kept the business running.

The shop is expected to close on Saturday.