Vulnerable British breed rescued from France
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A vulnerable British breed dog has been rescued from 'death row' in France.
The Otterhound is one of the UK’s vulnerable native dog breeds. With fewer than 50 puppy registrations a year, the breed that has been in the UK since the 11th century is at risk of dying out. However one more can now be added to the list after Otterhound Club Rescue helped one dog on death row in France.
Helen Hacking, from the Wirral is the rescue co-ordinator for Otterhound Club Rescue, a Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisation. In her role she helps owners understand the lifestyle requirements for this energetic breed to ensure they live harmoniously together, but also helps dogs that have lost their homes for any number of reasons.
As soon as Helen heard about Dede, an Otterhound on ‘death row’ in a pound in France, Helen knew she had to rescue him. “With so few of this wonderful breed in the UK, it is a travesty to know that the breed outside of the UK risks being put down for not having a home.” said Helen. “Dede was lucky - it was only because of a few extraordinary people that he is alive and well in a loving home today.”
It was the actions of a French woman, Annie Gratreau, who lives near the pound that set the ball rolling. Annie volunteered to walk Dede, realised he was special and alerted Evelyn Gorrill, an English woman living in France who runs a website for rehoming abandoned dogs, www.doglinks-france.com.
Alison and Billy Gale, friends of Helen’s who lived in France, were alerted to Dede’s plight and went to see him at the pound before calling Helen to tell her his story. Helen learned that Dede had been found wandering in the snow on the Atlantic coast, and didn’t have a microchip, a tattoo, or even a mark where a collar had been. The pound realised he must be a purebred dog, but didn’t know what breed and it was for this reason that he was kept longer than normal, whilst research was carried out.
Helen explains: “Dede was depressed and starved. He was a candidate for euthanasia, therefore he hadn’t been given any vaccinations. I knew I had a good home for him here in the UK with experienced Otterhound owners, who had recently lost their beloved hound. It was all very complicated, and we were warned that the pound might not release him if he was to leave the country. Therefore, Alison and Billy put their names forward to adopt him, and travelled three hours each way to take him to their home.
“On arrival Dede made himself at home and instantly bonded with their hounds and cats, eating all the food they had left in their bowls, but there wasn’t even a growl or spat between them. The next day they took him to their vet, where he was given all the necessary vaccinations, flea control etc and the pet passport process was begun. All of this should have taken three weeks, but there was a hiccup and it took a month. All of these expenses were generously paid by Alison and Billy.”
The dog travelled from France to England with the help of retired English lorry driver, David Marker, David transports dogs anywhere when they need rehoming and only charges his fuel. He even sleeps in the back of his estate car with them to save expenses.
Since he arrived in the UK, Dede has been rehomed with new owners who fell in love with him immediately and has been renamed Barney. Barney has now put on weight and is living his life out in a loving home.
For more information about Kennel Club Breed Rescue visit: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breedrescue
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