A stray puppy cornered by dog catchers in Bosnia and kept caged in freezing conditions has been adopted by a Perthshire couple - and her new ‘dad’ just happens to be the provost, Dennis Melloy.
Ginny, believed to be just about a year old, didn’t face a very bright future when she was captured in Bosnia’s drive to get unwanted dogs off the streets.
But she was rescued by a charity that gets strays a ticket to a better place.
Dennis Melloy and his wife Libby were at a Perthshire Open Studios opening event in September, when they bought a painting by Kate West, a Pitlochry artist known for her endearing dog portraits.
As they paid for the picture, they got chatting to Kate, who told them about a puppy she’d fought to bring to the UK that desperately needed a loving home.
Kate has a history of rescuing endangered animals from far away - her dog Barnie was saved four years ago from Thailand where he was being kept for the meat trade.
He now lives happily with Kate and her husband Roger.
“It first started when my husband’s cancer came back and I started needing ‘happy ending’ stories.
“I followed dog rescuers on the internet and got a bit addicted to reading about animals being rescued and saved,” Kate explained.
“I started helping two people who raise huge amounts to help the stray dogs of Romania and Bosnia.
“Bosnia is very cold and some dogs at the pounds freeze to death.”
The dogs had to have sponsors who would pay for them to get vaccinations, spaying, vet fees, kennelling, quarantine and pet passport.
Kate agreed to be that link.
She told the PA: “I knew that I had to get Ginny before bad weather set in and also before Brexit as things could get really difficult with new legislation.”
The animal-loving Melloys, who for many years have had Grangemount Cattery in Alyth, were just getting over the loss of their long-haired pointer which had recently died of a brain tumour.
They thought the sandy coloured pup Kate had arranged to get out of the Bosnian lock-up would make a good companion for their other dog Molly, who was now alone, so they expressed an interest in taking on little Ginny.
Ginny arrived in the UK three weeks ago with 19 other dogs.
The Melloys went with Kate to Bishop Auckland, Durham to collect her.
“She was very nervous at first, but clearly a lovely, bright pup, just looking for love,” said Libby.
“She’s just lovely. Ginny has settled in well,” added Provost Melloy. “She gives us a big welcome every morning.
“To begin with she was wary of strangers, perhaps she thought someone would be taking her away, but this is her forever home.
“We’ve had to work on house training her and be very patient, as she’d never been in a home before, but that will come in time.
“Our collie, Molly, has shown her the ropes.
“Ginny loves to run round us in circles and carry round her toy rabbit.
“She’s made no effort to destroy it - that’s pretty good for a pup!”
