SWEET PEGGY

Peggy and her sister Beauty were abandoned at a train station in their native Romania. The sisters were just 4 months old when they were dumped: nothing is known about her parents, her owners, or why she was dumped - more than likely, they were unwanted puppies or removed from their previous location as a nuisance.

They were rescued by Stefania from New Moon Rescue Romania, one of several selfless volunteers who foster these poor dogs with financial support from donations, sponsors and adoption fees.

Both girls were underweight and needed some TLC, but overall they were in good health. They were immediately labelled as loving souls with lots of energy; they loved people despite their start in life. When Helen spotted Peggy’s picture, she knew she had to adopt her; she was in love, and she couldn’t resist her beautiful amber eyes, gorgeous dappled paws and curious eyebrows.

Helen was approved as a sponsor soon after and told us, “I wanted to help whilst she was still in Romania, so I sent funds for her upkeep, any vet treatments or jabs required. I was so lucky that she was healthy and happy. It was literally just a waiting game to bring her back. It was a bit of an adventure getting her home to Liverpool, though, as there were many, many, many hours by van and car, all overseen by another incredible charity Happy Bus, but Peggy handled it like a champ.”

We asked Helen how it was waiting to meet Peggy in Calais, and she explained, “The journey home was relatively quick; the waiting in Calais for them to arrive was long and tiring! It was about 40 hours from setting out until we got home on very little sleep. I wish we’d slept a little longer in the UK, and I wish we had brought a tent and airbed! We had to try to find somewhere on the Calais beachfront in the lovely but very hot weather to rest. I had not prepared for such a long wait, but it was unavoidable, no one’s fault, and I wasn’t going anywhere!

The original ETA was 12 noon, but it was midnight by the time they arrived! As a group (there were 8 dogs en route), we were all tired but happy together, looking forward to our new role as pawrents! We keep in touch, sharing the amazing progress our dogs are making. Everyone is at different stages due to their age or previous life experience in Romania, but all are now in loving homes with caring owners. Beauty was on the same Happy Bus as Peggy and was adopted by a lovely man in Chester. We plan to meet up this year.”

The New Moon Rescue also have a branch in the UK which again is volunteer-run with Sam and Laura and the team doing the appeals, updates, admin and organising home inspections. They also keep Happy Bus groups up to date on travelling dogs and cats, encouraging sponsors etc. As with their Romanian branch, they all do an incredible job organising, caring for and ensuring the animals go to loving homes.

When asked about her character, Helen’s face lights up as she tells us, “She’s very confident, a little bit stubborn when she’s got an interesting scent, but very, very loving. She still has to learn manners with other dogs, as boxing does not always go down well, of course! But she is gaining play skills every day, and I am so proud of her progress in such a short time. She knows how to sit, give a paw, lay down, touch and jump up - barking at innocent passers-by is another story, but we’ll get there! We’re almost done with our first training course, and she is coming along in leaps and bounds. I am looking at agility options too, but knowing I’ve got to run along with her might put that out of our reach at the minute!

We also ask Helen if she knows what breed Peggy is, “It wasn’t known what she’s made of, breed wise, but I suspected from her mini-wolf face and curled tail a hint of Romanian Shepherd, maybe some terrier, the way she sniffs and digs and sniffs some more! But we had guesses of Corgi, Dachshund, Collie, Patterdale, Jack Russell - all sorts! The Doggy DNA test through Wisdom turned up 21 different breeds! The biggest was Chihuahua and Segugio Italiano, followed by Alaskan Husky, which she taps into when she howls for sure! There is some Shepherd in there, but German rather than Romanian. She is a pedigree mongrel and totally perfect.

I’ve been very lucky with Peggy; she’s taken to being a kept puppy very quickly. I know this is not always the case for rescued street dogs, but every dog deserves a chance at a happy life where they are cared for, fed and kept warm and safe.

It breaks my heart every time I see more and more rescues appearing on the Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek and other rescue charities’ pages. I know no one loves their dogs quite like the British; if only there were an easier way to encourage rescue, care, consideration, planning, adoption over abandonment, spaying and neutering as needed - anything to help prevent more rescues ending up terrified on the streets.”

We couldn’t agree more with Helen’s views on European animal rights, but with more people like Helen willing to adopt, we can at least help some abandoned, mistreated dogs receive the love and care they deserve.