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Banksy the dog art raises £500 for Bristol animal charity

Bristol A.R.C Banksy the dog with Kaya from the charity's Animal Care Team and volunteer dog walker Rob HillBristol A.R.C
Banksy the dog visited the Cat and Dog mural by the graffiti artist

Paintings by a dog named after graffiti artist Banksy have raised almost £500 for charity.

Seven paintings were created by the rescue dog, who uses his nose and paws to make the pieces of art.

The money is going to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, who have been caring for the canine creator since last August.

Spokeswoman Gina Jones said: "We're absolutely thrilled. The money will make a big difference to the lives of vulnerable animals in our care."

Banksy the dog has been recreating art by his namesake as part of an appeal to find a home.

The seven paintings; Girl With The Tennis Ball Earring, Good Panda, Treats Are In The Air, Dog And Cat, Neon Panda, (Dreaming Of) Adoption Day, and DB Original, were listed on the centre's Facebook page for a week.

Bristol Animal Rescue Centre Banksy's Good Panda next to Dog Banky's versionBristol Animal Rescue Centre
Good Panda had the highest bid placed upon it at £120

People were encouraged to comment on the photos with their highest bid. In total, the auction raised £498.

Ms Jones, the centre's communications manager, said the DB Original had generated the most interest, with Good Panda reaching the highest bid at £120.

"People are really into the original," Ms Jones said.

Bristol Animal Rescue Centre A Dog Banksy originalBristol Animal Rescue Centre
Gina Jones said people loved this Dog Banksy original

She added that while those pieces had been auctioned off, Banksy was still making paw print paintings.

"He just keeps going and going, he loves spreading the paint around," she said.

When news of the dog's artistic leanings were first reported, his story went around the world.

Bristol A.R.C. Banksy the dog paintingBristol A.R.C.
Dog Banksy uses his nose and paws to spread the paint which is under cling film

But luckily he was not quite as secretive as his namesake, whose real identity has never been revealed, Ms Jones said.

"I think he secretly really enjoys the attention," she said.

"When we had some cameras in, he's like 'yes, you may film me'.

"He's really come out of his shell."

Bristol Animal Rescue Centre Banky's Adoption Day (Dreaming of) next to Dog Banky's versionBristol Animal Rescue Centre
The centre said the painting was a "great enrichment activity" for the dogs
Bristol Animal Rescue Centre Banky's Treats are in the air, next to Dog Banky's versionBristol Animal Rescue Centre
Although he is no longer copying his namesake's work, Banksy the dog is still loving painting

Staff at the centre said they were hoping all the attention will now help find Banksy - who has been at the centre for an "unusually long amount of time" - a home for good.

"We've had a few expressions of interests and we are still going through the adoption process with everybody," Ms Jones said.

"Obviously we do check for everyone who applies that it is a suitable home for him... and we are really hopefully we will find somebody great and get him that forever home."

The money raised will now go towards looking after the animals at the centre.

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