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Rescue
dogs show agility a thing or two
The UK’s five largest animal welfare charities are joining
together for the fourth year running to present an agility team
at Crufts.
Battersea Dogs’ Home, The Blue Cross, National Canine Defence
League, RSPCA and Wood Green Animal Shelters are working together
to promote rescue dogs and show that they can rival any pedigree
pet when it comes to enthusiasm and agility in the ring. Also
attending will be an invitation team from the National Animal
Welfare Trust.
As in previous years, the team line-up features dogs who have
triumphed over the most difficult of circumstances to become stars
in their own right.
The stars include down to earth mutt, Maisy, who was an unwanted
puppy and kept in a shed for the first eight weeks of her life.
Luckily she was brought into NCDL Merseyside where she was adopted
by Canine Carer, Michelle Radcliffe. Maisy is still quite frightened
of men so performing at Crufts will be a real achievement for
her but she really has come a long way.
Maisy is joined on the course by no less than 35 furry friend
all eager to prove their lightening paw speed. They include Monty
- the RSPCA Dog of the Year, Storm - a three year old working
sheepdog rehomed from the NCDL who loves to ‘sing’ to
the news and Rayne - a deaf dog from Battersea Dogs Home who,
amazingly, can do agility.
Shauna Lowry, celebrity dog love and star of animal TV series
Animal Hospital says: “It’s incredible that so many
of these dogs should display such enthusiasm and confidence considering
that so many of them have had such an unfortunate start in life.
Thanks to the charities’ care and the love and patience of
their new owners they are really able to start living, and what
better way to show how happy they are than a spin round the agility
course? By taking part in this event they are showing that they
can compete with the best of the rest and are not held back by
their pasts. Come and cheer them on!”
The displays take place in the Special Events Ring at 3.25pm on
Saturday 8th March and 1.30pm on Sunday 9th March. It is hoped
that they will provide an entertaining example of what these dogs
can achieve through their own perseverance and that of their handlers.
Every charity involved has taken time and energy to make sure
that these dogs, and thousands of others like them, find loving
homes for life.
This is not a competitive exercise - each team consists of one
dog from each charity, emphasising that rescue dogs really do
love you more. |
