Tragedy has struck for Richard Stafford writes Christine McDonald.

Richard’s young Welsh Springer Ferndel Anastasia, co-owned with Richard Bott, escaped from his home in Swansea recently onto the railway line nearby. 

To add to the heartbreak, his CC-winning Weimaraner  - Gunalt Inspire Farnfield - also escaped, and tragically a train killed the two bitches. They were both only two years old. 

Richard says he is totally devastated, “I think if I hadn't gone to Windsor on the weekend and met with my ‘true doggy friends’ I could have just given up,” he said earlier this week.