The luck of the Irish was with two formerly homeless dogs from Ireland that were close to being euthanized. They were rescued and wound up winning big at the world’s largest dog show, Crufts.
The winning dogs, Gertie and Winnie, were both rescued from the Dunboyne pound in County Meath, Ireland, according to an IrishTimes report.
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Throughout Ireland, stray dogs are euthanized after five days if they have not been reclaimed. Surrendered dogs have just 24 hours to get a new home, so many canines are put down. Both dogs had rough early starts to life: Winnie was found as a stray, and Gertie was born in the pound after her mother was brought in.
An Irish charity called A Dog’s Life, which works to save healthy dogs from being killed, rescued the dogs. The talented canines then quickly went from pound to podium, scoring very well at Crufts.
Gertie, described as being a collie-cross, placed fourth in the Young Kennel Club Agility Competition. Winnie, a grey-haired lurcher, came in second in the Kennel Club ABC Dog Agility Competition. Both dogs were adopted by Julie Rumsey and her family from York, England.
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The dogs worked hard for their honors. Agility requires competitors to walk on balance beams, jump, move over steep surfaces, weave through obstacles and more. It’s one of the most exciting events to watch at dog competitions.
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Martina Roche, a coordinator for A Dog’s Life, points out that not all dogs in Ireland are as lucky as Gertie and Winnie were in finding a home. The problem starts from the first day someone decides to adopt.
“A lot of times people will get an inappropriate breed, a tiny pup because it’s cute, but they underestimate the amount of exercise it will need, and they don’t have the time or the energy,� Roche was quoted as saying in a press release.
Another sad fact is that many Irish pounds are “closed,” meaning that rescue organizations cannot even come in to save dogs.
Thankfully, however, A Dog’s Life manages to rescue up to 1200 dogs a year. Volunteers and donations keep it going, so this St. Patrick’s Day, please consider giving them a boost. You can donate to the organization at this page.
Photo: Winnie, a dog saved from a pound in Ireland, weaves through poles at the Crufts dog show. Credit: onEdition
Article source: http://news.discovery.com/animals/irish-dogs-dog-show-120314.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Tags: Animal