MAISIE MOO THE RESCUE

FLYING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS... ALMOST! 11

MAISIE MOO THE RESCUE

Maisie, the adorable beagle, crossed with a shorthaired pointer, didn’t have the best start in life until she was rescued from the mountains in Cyprus after being found fending for herself. The Dog Valley Rescue Centre took her in and began planning for her new furever home.

Alix Johnson had already begun searching for a dog to adopt, and due to so many pups ending up in ’kill shelters’ in Europe, she knew her search would start on the continent. When Alix spotted Maisie, it was love at first sight and arrangements were made by the Dog Valley Rescue Centre along with Petways Pet Transport and Willows, Wags and Whiskers to bring her and 120 other dogs to the UK before Christmas.

Alix prepared to welcome Maisie home, everything she could want, from toys to Christmas treats. Sadly, the journey was delayed due to the government imposing new Covid restrictions and the recent Brexit regulations.

Alix was heartbroken; she had so wanted Maisie with her for Christmas! She fostered a pup in need over the festive period, which kept her busy, and she made regular Facetime calls with Maisie and her foster carer. She was smitten and couldn’t wait for news on her new arrival date.

Soon they were able to reschedule; sadly, due to the continued restrictions, only 40 rescue dogs were able to fly out. Maisie was one of the lucky ones. On the 18th January 2021, her voyage began.

Despite the length of the journey, Maisie adapted well to travelling, although she didn’t like the cold much! Two flights, a train journey, and many hours on the road finally saw Maisie arrive at her new furever home with Alix in Liverpool at 8pm on 19th January.

Since then, the couple have become inseparable. Alix credits Maisie with saving her life after a miserable lockdown peppered with bouts of depression. Living on her own, she had become isolated but now embraces life with Maisie travelling all over the country. Alix tells us;

“As she was found in the mountains, she thinks she’s a mountain goat and loves skipping up and down places like Moel Famau in Wales, Ingleton Falls in Yorkshire and the Sandstone Trail in Cheshire.

Everywhere we go, we make friends as people stop, intrigued to know what breed she is. She’s even made it to our local bakery’s VIP (Very Important Pooches) wall and was chosen by a pet store to go on a Valentine’s date.”

We also asked Alix how well Maisie settled after their first meeting, and she tells us that due to Covid restrictions, the volunteers put Maisie straight into Alix’s car, so she was unable to meet her properly until she got home.

“I didn’t attempt to touch her when she arrived, I sat on the floor and let her come to me in her own time and within half an hour, she was on my knee. She’s very aloof with strangers but such an affectionate little girl with those she knows and loves. She literally throws her arms around my neck and cuddles me like a little human. She has terrible separation anxiety and can’t be left on her own”

Alix goes on to tell us… “I wanted a dog with character, and she delivers in bucketloads. Her party trick is opening doors, opening anything, even her own parcels and she can unzip a handbag if there’s a treat in there. She is also an escape artist. Within the first week she escaped from her harness at the park and ran home. I found her sat on the doorstep hiding from the rain; being from Cyprus, she loves sunbathing but refuses to go out if it’s wet! She was toilet trained when I got her but other than that was pretty wild. She’s still not the most obedient dog but has calmed down a lot since she first arrived.” She has a toy graveyard because she has pulled it to pieces within seconds of being given a new toy. The only thing that ever survived was a plush fried egg. She carried it everywhere, even to bed at night, until one day she buried it in the garden it’s never been seen since.”

When we asked about Maisie’s favourite treat, Alix chuckled as she explained her funny dance. At precisely 8pm every night, she gets on her hind legs and hops about, licking her lips until she is rewarded with her favourite Dentistick treat.

“She can’t walk past a bin without sticking her head in it - probably because that’s how she survived when she was on the streets. If her best friend Bailey (a Golden Retriever) comes over, I give them both a long-lasting treat. She buries hers, eats his and then when he’s gone home, she digs hers up and eats that too! She even eats flying ants!”

Maisie, or Maisie Moo as she is known, is extremely protective of Alix. Her superpower is to detect when a hedgehog enters the garden and alert her mum, even if it is in the middle of the night! She adores her food, walks, sniffing and runs rings around Alix.

Maisie is now loved, secure and well taken care of, something we want for every stray or injured dog. Alix tells us it’s the best thing she has ever done, “She has changed my life, and I can’t imagine life without her.”

Follow Maisie’s adventures on Instagram at @maisie_thepooch

Maisie & Alix