Ten years ago, there was a huge otterhound Rescue underway, when the RSPCA prosecuted a breeder who had a vast number of hounds of all ages.

 

Some were too frail to survive, but many were re-homed after being nursed-back to health. Getting them all into Rescue was a mammoth task which lasted several years.

 

One of the success stories which came out of that event, was a hound named Oscar.  He was a few months old when he was rescued and was very traumatised.  He didn’t trust any humans and only bonded with other dogs.

 

He was at the home of Mike (who was running Rescue at the time) and Mandy Ansell.  She spent a long time trying to get near him and she thought he would always be a kennel hound, due to his fear of humans.  If he did find a home it would have to be with a lady who already had a dog, so that he would always have someone to trust.

 

 A few months later we were at Crufts and Graham & Sarah came to the otterhound benches and fell in love with them all.  They stayed cuddling them for ages and then finally asked if we had any in Rescue.  I told them that we only had Oscar and gave them his history, saying he would be a very difficult hound to re-home.  I always remember Graham’s words, “It will only take patience and lots of TLC.”

 

Graham Hewitt had both in abundance.  He adopted Oscar very soon after Crufts and Oscar has gradually over the years, recovered from his traumatic start in life.  He is adored by Graham and Sarah and has a great many friends of the human variety, as well as the four-legged. 

Rescue Co-ordinator:   Mrs Helen Hacking    01513 426290