Last year, we began a series of ‘myth busters’ over on our Instagram, discussing some of the myths that surround rescue dogs alongside some truly amazing examples of just how wrong, and therefore damaging, these assumptions can be.
Rescue dogs have a hard enough time without unfounded myths getting in the way of a happier future. Through engagement and education, we can help brighten the prospects of thousands of dogs currently languishing in shelters around the world, waiting to be rehomed but being overlooked for a ‘problem’ that simply doesn’t apply to them. It’s time to bust those myths!
Sadly, dogs with darker fur tend to spend far longer in shelter than their golden or paler-haired friends. This is particularly heartbreaking when you have a litter of puppies to rehome, one of whom is consistently overlooked and left behind.
Why this is we can’t be sure: perhaps it stems from century-old traditions such as the witch’s “familiar” or the Hound of the Baskervilles; a modern view might be that black dogs are harder to photograph. Neither origins are fair and yet, time and time again our gorgeous bundles of black fluff are overlooked.
If you’d like to help bust the myth that black dogs are “unlucky” or “tricky to photograph”, and would like to adopt a dog, please meet the dogs currently looking for homes.
Hundreds of the 1,500 dogs we’ve rehomed have been welcomed into families with children. From newborns to teens, we truly believe a dog can transform a child’s life, teaching them so much about resilience, forgiveness and gratitude. In return, a dog’s loyalty to those who have given them a second chance is unparalleled. So this myth, in particular, breaks our hearts.
Recent success story, Martha, recently took on the role of big sister when her owners welcomed a baby girl. Not only is Martha impeccably well behaved around her baby sister, and knows exactly what’s needed of her, but she’s been a great source of support for the new parents.
We’re delighted that Martha, amongst many others, are paving the way to bust this particular myth!
Anyone who has been following WAHF for the past few months will know just how many puppies we’ve had up for adoption, from the Sugar & Spice pups to the Pepsi pups and even the Lockdown Litter.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. After all, with an estimated 1 billion puppies born on the streets every year, there’s certainly no shortage of adorable young dogs who need a home.
If you’re serious about introducing a puppy into your home and are ready to bust a myth while doing so, please meet the puppies currently up for adoption.
It’s hard to say which myth is the most damaging myth, but this one is certainly the most unfair. Whilst it’s fair to say that some rescue dogs need patience, training and consistency, the same can be said for many pedigree breeds who will demonstrate a similar spectrum of behavioural issues in their lifetime. In fact, many pedigrees come with inherited traits that prove hard to train out or overcome.
To call these dogs “damaged” is to do them a disservice: these dogs have endured a tragic start to life and come out the other side more resilient, adaptable, loyal and forgiving.
We take great pride in working extremely closely with all our partner shelters and oversea projects, and the WAHF team regularly visit, so we know our dogs come from safe and ethical backgrounds and will be well cared for right up until the day you meet them.
What sets our shelters apart, and makes overseas rescue very unique, is that our partner shelters work extremely hard getting to know the dogs in their care. They spend weeks, months and for some dogs, sadly, years getting to know them.
Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we believe in true transparency, we help each and every dog find their ideal home, no matter their story or how niche their requirements might be.
“Why dogs?” is often the first thing people ask us, closely followed by “why dogs overseas?” Our first answer is that we believe in dog; all dogs, every dog, whatever their breed or size or age and wherever in the world they come from.
Beyond that, we point to a sadder reality: there are 600 million stray dogs around the world who are, right now, being slaughtered, eaten, tortured, beaten, gassed and starved by the thousands. In fact, there are 500,000 strays in Puerto Rico alone, an island roughly the size of North Yorkshire. The UK, in comparison, has just a 10th of that number.
When you put the problem into a global perspective, we hope you’ll see why our passion for our international projects burns so brightly.
We’re bringing ‘myth busters’ back soon and will be looking at some of the assumptions that are particularly applicable to life in 2020.
We’d love to hear from adopters and fellow dog lovers about your own experiences: Have you faced certain questions about your dog that you thought were unfair? Has your dog helped debunk some of the misconceptions that your friends and family had? Do you get frustrated with the assumptions people making about your dog or the process of adopting?
Let us know and we’ll add them to our list of rescue myths to be busted – keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram!
Decades of miseducation has led to a culture of cruelty, neglect and violence. The levels of abuse in Lebanon is amongst the worst we’ve ever seen: dogs tied up and shot at close range; puppies thrown from balconies; life-threatening wounds inflicted for ‘sport’ or malicious curiosity.
Following the recent tragedy, and with the country already on the brink of civil war, life for these street dogs is about to get even worse. That’s why we’re shining a light on where our passion for the dogs of Lebanon began, and how we’re helping now.
Maggie is where our work in Lebanon began, with the sorry tale of a dog who had experienced more pain than any animal ever deserves.
Maggie was found tied up on the side of the road: both eyes had been shot out; one ear cut off; pregnant; and left for dead. Later, x-rays showed the true extent of abuse: Maggie’s skull was so peppered with pellets that it became clear she had been shot in the head over and over. There is no justifiable reason for this: this is not ‘sport’ or ‘target practice’, this is animal abuse.
So when we were contacted by an independent, local rescuer, we were only too happy to step in and raise the funds needed to treat Maggie and fly her to a new life here in the UK.
Not only did Maggie survive, against all the odds, but her story has reached the farthest corners of the dog-loving community. And for good reason, because Maggie’s legacy is one of love, inspiration and hope for so many dogs like her, who are still out there waiting to be rescued.
Through Maggie’s story, thousands of people have come to learn the everyday reality for dogs in Lebanon. And with the recent tragedy placing further pressure on the economy and infrastructure, there is no time to waste.
When Maggie was found, she was pregnant and it was obvious this wasn’t her first litter. The severity of the abuse inflicted on her meant that her pregnancy had to be terminated; had she not been found, the birth alone could’ve killed her.
This is the reality for so many unsterilised dogs across Lebanon, where there just aren’t the resources needed to bring about lasting change. Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we believe that sterilisation is the single most effective way of reducing stray populations, which is why we’re proud to be sponsoring sterilisation drives at the heart of Lebanon.
Less than two weeks on from the explosion that rocked the city, Give Me A Paw have already organised weekly sterilisation drives and rallied the support of local volunteers. Now that there is a concentrated population of stray dogs in the Karantina region, close to the site of the explosion, the GMAP team are hopeful they’ll be able to sterilise as many dogs as possible.
But the costs of sterilisation in Lebanon are some of the highest we’ve seen, at £40 for a male and £75 for a female. It’s only with your support that we’ll be able to help fund this campaign and, with enough funding, we’ll be able to support them on a long term basis.
If you’d like to sponsor the cost of one sterilisation, your donation will go directly to saving a Lebanese dog from an endless cycle of breeding. You might even be saving the life of a dog like Maggie.
On behalf of Give Me A Paw, and the dogs of Lebanon, thank you.
The recent lockdown has taught those of us with dogs just how lucky we are; they have been our constant in a world filled with uncertainty. But sadly, not everybody has the opportunity to experience the benefits of pet ownership.
Launched in 2019, PAAW House is a social hub for like-minded dog lovers. Not only is it a fun, informative community for sharing knowledge, stories and all things dog, but their work advocates for more reasonable legislation regarding dog ownership, particularly for people who rent (and many other worthy causes!)
PAAW are on a mission to end pet discrimination across the UK, making lives easier for dogs and their owners alike; a mission we are excited to get behind.
In 2019, they hosted a launch in support of Wild at Heart Foundation, raising over £500! They continue to extend their generosity by donating a percentage of their annual profits, as well as promoting awareness and fundraising wherever they can.
It’s an honour to have been chosen by an organisation whose beliefs are so aligned with our own – that pets should be welcome everywhere!
Thank you for your support PAAW!
Wunderdog Magazine have supported us since their earliest days. It was an honour to feature on their very first print issue, with the one and only Peggy from Romania taking centre stage on the cover.
Not only was this an incredible ‘rags to riches’ tale, but it sparked the most remarkable chain of events, which led to the rescue of Mitya, a facially-disfigured puppy from Russia, demonstrating Wunderdog’s global reach.
As a voice for rescue dogs the world over, Wunderdog Magazine’s goal is to make rescue the world’s favourite breed by showcasing the work of rescue organisations and their teams who work so hard on behalf of all things dog. The team at Wunderdog champion the wonderful experiences that life with a rescue dog brings, and that’s why we’re honoured to declare them official friends of the Foundation.
It all started with our very special Romanian rescue, Peggy. In December 2018, just as Christmas fever was beginning to set in, we were contacted about a sorry tale: a puppy had been discovered in a field in Romania, abandoned in a box with her ears and tail slashed to ribbons, and – most disturbing of all – her entire nose gouged out.
In spite of everything that had happened to her, Peggy remained a sweet, loving and happy dog, and we knew we had to help her. Thanks to the generous donations of our community, Peggy flew to the UK in January 2019 where she was treated at an expert facility, before finding the perfect family to give her the love she so sorely deserved.
With her amputated ears and tail, and her tailor-made nose, Peggy certainly is a one-of-a-kind dog. So it was a truly amazing moment when we learned that Peggy would be appearing on the first ever print cover of Wunderdog Magazine – talk about rags to riches! And thank goodness she did, because her story inspired the most remarkable chain of events…
Months after the magazine was first published, a copy found its way to Russia where it was read by Ksenia, a woman who’d only weeks before come across a puppy whose nose, tail and ears had been cut off. The dog, who she’d christened Mitya, was condemned to a life of struggle at best or, worse still, the threat of euthanasia, as no vets Ksenia took him to could find a way to permanently restore his nose and therefore allow him to breathe comfortable. Mitya had even had surgery to insert false nostrils attempted; but to no success.
Ksenia may have been forced to give up hope had it not been for Wunderdog Magazine. It was seeing Peggy’s beautiful and truly distinctive face on the cover that inspired her to reach out to Wild at Heart Foundation and ask for our help – and we were, of course, only too happy to step in and help.
You can read more about Mitya’s rescue, inspired by Peggy’s story, here.
And it’s not only by building an international rescue community that Wunderdog are helping dogs in need, they’re also donating a very generous 20% of their sales to Wild at Heart Foundation.
We couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing support and all they do for the rescue community – thank you Wunderdog!
Find out more about the magazine and purchase your subscription at wunderdogmagazine.com
This week is set to be another scorcher and while we’re not ones to complain about the glorious weather, our poor pups might feel differently. After all, can you imagine wearing a fur coat in this heat? Like us, dogs need shade, plenty of water and even a nap in front of the fan! Another way to keep them cool is with dog-friendly ice lollies. Some might call them “pup-sicles”…
Not only will your dog absolutely love them, but they’re also fun to make! With endless ingredients to choose from, it’s easy to cater to your dog’s taste buds, keeping them both entertained and cool.
Here are some of the Wild at Heart Foundation team’s favourite recipes…
What you’ll need:
There’s so many dog-friendly ice lolly recipes that you can be as fancy or as simple as you want!
To make ice lollies, you’ll need something to act as a ‘stick’, could be a chew stick – or even a chicken foot like the one Mishka is eyeing up!
You can use ice trays for smaller treats, or plastic pots like the ones below for larger lollies to keep your dog entertained (and cool!) for longer.
Freezing plain kibble in water is the simplest recipe and great for when you haven’t had time to get to shop.
Another quick but healthy option is to include some raw veg in your recipe. A carrot is great for longevity, as once your pup has licked their way through the ice, they still have the carrot to nibble on.
If you really want to spoil your pup, you could include treats. Anything from gravy bones to liver paste will freeze just fine, and make a delicious treat for your companion.
Fruit is a great alternative to savoury snacks. You can slice it and freeze it, or blend it first! Apples and bananas are both healthy and suitable for dogs, but many fruits aren’t so please check first.
Blending veg and freezing it makes a perfectly healthy, nutritious treat for hot summer days. It’s also a great way of using up any leftover vegetables! Green beans, peas and potatoes are all great sources of nutrients, but again please check first which vegetables are not suitable.
And it’s not only food that makes a perfect pup-sicle! Why not add toys and make it an enrichment toy as well as a cooling treat.
Below, super dog-mum Kasey fills a lunchbox with toys, chew sticks, carrot slices and even stuffs the toys with treats too. As the end result starts to defrost, not only will the dogs have toys to play with but they’ll have treats inside to sniff out too…this should keep even the most playful of pups busy!
The possibilities really are endless! Instead of freezing these ingredients with water, you could mix up a gravy or meat broth. You could even experiment with yoghurt, goats milk, peanut butter or tuna juice!
If you try any of our recipes, be sure to tag us in your end results!
Disclaimer: as delicious as these recipes are, don’t be tempted by your pooches’ puppy-dog eyes to feed them more than they’re allowed! Be careful to consider your dog’s age and lifestyle, and feed such treats in accordance with their diet.
A huge thank you to Mishka, Millie and Maggie for giving these recipes their seal of approval!
This weekend, we were incredibly proud to watch 6 WAHF rescue dogs take centre stage on the Strutz catwalk, proving that rescue never goes out of style! Funds raised from the event will be generously donated to Wild at Heart Foundation and the PDSA, supporting those dogs who aren’t as lucky as this weekend’s gorgeous models.
Giving back is a huge part of the Love My Human ethos and their canine charity fashion show is just one of the fundraising events they host throughout the year, raising crucial funds for causes close to all our hearts.
We were so honoured that the Love My Human team chose to support us, alongside the PDSA, with their event; such collaborations really are essential in continuing our global project work, which support our mission to end the suffering of strays around the world.
The icing on the cake really was seeing our WAHF rescue dogs up on stage, strutting their stuff on the catwalk.
After the show we enjoyed a thoroughly unique auction, which saw outfits and accessories, exclusive (dog friendly!) hotel stays and even a pet photoshoot auctioned off to raise yet more funds for canines everywhere. It was a truly fabulous event, totally focused around our four-legged companions.
A huge, heartfelt thank you to Love My Human for choosing to support our work and for allowing us to highlight the plight of rescue dogs like Maggie the Wunderdog, raising awareness and sharing their stories – and having a lot of fun whilst at it!
One of the better news stories to come out of Covid-19 was the emptying of animal shelters across the UK. But sadly, there’s a flip side to this: with high demand for faithful companions to see us through these uncertain times, dog theft is on the rise.
According to DogLost, they’ve experienced a 65% increase in reports of dog-napping compared with 2019, and they’re just one of many ‘lost and found’ services across the UK. While some criminals are targeting dog walkers, others are taking it a step further and breaking into Boarding Kennels – Cosy Kennels in Stretham and Barton Mills in Suffolk have both fallen victim, having 20 dogs stolen between them in July alone.
Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we can’t imagine anything worse. While, thankfully, such crimes remain few and far between, it can’t hurt to be a little extra vigilant. Here’s how we’ll be taking extra precautions to prevent dog theft:
Leaving your dog unattended
Leaving them alone in a car or tied up outside a shop leaves our dogs vulnerable to opportunistic thieves. Instead, leave them at home or arrange a friend, or family member, to sit with them while you pop into the shop.
Microchipping
It’s law that all dogs must be microchipped by 8 weeks of age but it’s crucial to keep the details updated, whether that’s a new contact number or change of address. Should the worst happen, this will prove invaluable in reuniting you and your dog.
ID tags
It’s also law that your dog must wear a collar and ID tag while out and about in public, but again, be vigilant with what information you include. Your phone number and address are key but leave off your dog’s name: this only makes it easier for thieves to steal your beloved companion and fake ownership of them.
Do your due diligence
While we’re all about ‘adopt don’t shop’ here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we understand that some people will still turn to breeders to find their next faithful companion. If so, you too can help prevent dog theft by doing your due diligence: insist on meeting the parents and make sure you receive all the necessary paperwork. Both steps are crucial, otherwise you could be buying someone else’s stolen dog.
Photographs
Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, our camera rolls are full of our dogs doing cute things…you might even find a few selfies with our dogs! Having clear, varied photos will help should your dog ever go missing and, similarly, photos of you with your dog will help prove ownership should it ever get to that stage.
Keeping them safe at home
Try not to leave your dog outside unattended even if they are avid sunbathers. Instead, keep them in view at all times and be wary of people sneaking in through side gates or over fences – why not purchase an alarm to alert you to visitors, for added peace of mind.
Keeping them safe on walkies
Be wary of strangers asking questions about your dog and never, ever hand them over even under the ruse of wanting to pet or play with them. Although trickier in the hot weather, do try to vary the times and locations of walkies, preventing you and your companion becoming ‘easy’ targets.
Boarding
Sadly, kennels have become targets for organised criminals looking to make money from selling these dogs on. So don’t be afraid to ask about CCTV and how regularly the animals are checked.
If the worst happens and you and your dog become separated, it’s important to act quickly. Here are the people to contact:
It’s a sad fact that such crimes are often the symptom of something more positive, like the huge number of dogs who have found forever homes in recent months. And while no dog – whether pedigree or rescue – is immune to theft, it’s important that us dog lovers look out for one another. So if you see anything suspicious, don’t be afraid to report it by calling 101 and sharing the information in your local area.
Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we’re no strangers to dogs with very specific, often unusual needs. As familiar as we are with the brutal conditions in which millions of strays reside all over the world, we remain unable to turn a blind eye to these special cases. We’re only thankful that this particular case is not one of cruelty inflicted by human hands: but that hasn’t made it any less heartbreaking.
We’re proud to have begun working with People For Animals Trust as part of our India project work and are in awe of the incredible work they do. When their founder, Ravi Dubey, got in touch to say he’d found a small dog with badly severed front legs, we knew this was a special case that would demand very particular medical attention and funding: we also knew it was a case we couldn’t turn away from.
Donate to Rocky’s Rescue Appeal now
There are an estimated 35 million stray dogs in India. With sterilisation virtually non-existent and many dogs surviving on scraps, this number is only set to rise. With so many dogs roaming the streets in varying states of health, it’s hardly surprising that they fall victim to such horrifying accidents as Rocky did.
Crossing the railway tracks, perhaps in search of food or shelter for the night, can be deadly. Rocky may have escaped with her life, but she was left with severed front legs making it incredibly difficult to get around, fight for food or ward off attacks from other dogs. Life on the streets is hard; life on the streets with a painful disability even more so.
But we’re determined to give this special dog the kind of future that all dogs deserve, no matter her disability or background. She may have known only hardship in her short life but she’s proven time and time again, just how resilient she is and, like all rescues, she will flourish given the right care and treatment.
Currently, Rocky is in the care of Ravi and can get around on her own (just look at her videos below) but she’ll need expert advice to explore long-term options. Surgery is not an option and so Rocky has been measured for prosthetic limbs, which if successful, will ensure she has a long, comfortable life ahead of her.
Wild at Heart Foundation are proud to have rescued many incredible dogs with severe and shocking disabilities, not unlike Rocky. Without our help, these dogs would not have been given the chance to live, and to experience happiness, comfort and joy; all things that Rocky has to look forward to.
In early 2020, we began a rescue mission to save two facially-disfigured dogs from Russia, Millie and Mitya. Their story inspired hundreds of supporters, incredible acts of generosity and moved us to create the WAHF Fund for Remarkable Rescues (previously the Millie & Mitya Rescue Fund).
Their legacy paves the way to rescue many more dogs like them – and we think you’ll agree that Rocky is quite the remarkable rescue. With your help, we’ll be able to use this fund to care, treat and find a suitable home for Rocky.
Rocky won’t be able to travel until November 2020 but once she arrives, we’d love to have an adoptive home lined up for her.
Click below to meet Rocky and find out more about her cheeky personality:
You can donate via our dedicated WAHF Fund for Remarkable Rescues which will ensure that 100% of your contribution will go towards Rocky and dogs like her, who have suffered unimaginable injuries and disabilities. Your donations will help fund the board, transport, treatment and aftercare of these dogs.
If you live overseas and would like to donate in your preferred currency, please donate via PayPal, specifying where you’d like your donation to go in the comments field.
Despite having been the victims of such horrific cruelty, thanks to your support we’ll be able to give them the happy and healthy future they truly deserve. We are so grateful for your support.
On behalf of Rocky and dogs like her: thank you.
If you’d like to stay up to date with the Foundation and Rocky’s Rescue Appeal, please follow us on Instagram, or sign up to our email newsletter.
Here at Wild at Heart Foundation, we’re no strangers to dogs with more unusual needs than most. Familiar as we are with the brutal conditions in which millions of strays the world over live in, it’s sadly ceased to be surprising for us when we hear of dogs who’ve suffered horrendous wounds at the hands of humans. Limbs lost in traps or car accidents. Ears cut off. Eyes shot or stabbed. Bodies peppered with air-rifle pellets. Noses gouged out.
It was this last kind of abhorrent abuse that led us to Peggy. In December 2018, just as Christmas fever was beginning to set in, we were contacted about a sorry tale that we just knew we had to help with. A puppy had been discovered in a field, abandoned in a box with her ears and tail slashed to ribbons, and – most disturbing of all – her entire nose gouged out. That this was the work of human hands was immediately obvious, though the reasons for committing such a horrendous act of mindless cruelty are, as always, near-impossible to fathom. What we did know was that this was a dog who would be overlooked by most, written off as “too damaged” and therefore not worthy of saving.
In spite of everything that had happened to her, Peggy remained a sweet, loving and happy dog. In January 2019, Peggy flew to the UK where she was treated at an expert facility, and found the perfect family to give her the love she so sorely deserved. With her amputated ears and tail, and her tailor-made nose, Peggy certainly is a one-of-a-kind dog. So it was a truly amazing moment when we learned that Peggy would be appearing on the first ever print cover of Wunderdog Magazine – talk about rags to riches! And thank goodness she did, because her story inspired the most remarkable chain of events…
Months after the magazine was first published, a copy found its way to Russia where it was read by Ksenia. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing! For just weeks before, Ksenia had come across a puppy whose nose, tail and ears had been cut off. Worried he wouldn’t be able to live a normal life, Mitya had visited a number of vets and even had surgery to insert false nostrils attempted; but to no success. So when she saw Peggy’s photo she knew that Wild at Heart Foundation would be able to help!
And Mitya was not alone. After reading Peggy’s success story, Wild at Heart Foundation superhero Kasey (Maggie‘s owner) began to see more stories of dogs who’d suffered similar injuries. She’d come across Millie, an innocent soul who’d suffered horrific injuries to the face. Millie was shot at close range, just like Maggie, and when Kasey saw her adorable face she knew she’d have to help.
Of course, we were only too happy to lend our support and embark upon what has now become our first rescue mission of a new decade!
And so we learned the stories of these two remarkable dogs:
Mitya was only months old when he had his nose disfigured, and his ears and tail cut off. He was let loose in the world to fend for himself and, having sustained such brutal wounds, his chances at survival looked slim.
Mitya must have been terrified – his short life had taught him that the world was not a kind place. But thankfully, his luck changed forever when Ksenia noticed a small, cowering shape in the shadows of the bushes by her house. Aided by a lot of patience, kind words and chicken, Ksenia coaxed the pup into her care, and fell instantly in love with his big brown eyes and the “tr-tr-tr” noise he made when breathing through his throat. She found it so endearing that she named him Mitya after a well known Russian children’s book character – a loveable tractor!
But after multiple attempted surgeries to rebuild his nose, it became clear that Mitya would need specialist help. In fact a number of vets had suggested that Mitya be euthanised – finding him a home where he could get the love and treatment he needed was a matter of life or death.
Millie was just a tiny pup when she was shot at close range, just like her new sister Maggie. Millie lost part of her nose and has a severely shortened muzzle where most of her jaw had shattered and could not be saved. As a result, Millie has an extremely long tongue that hangs out of her mouth most of the time and can become very dry. But she hasn’t let her facial disfigurement dampen her spirits and continues to be the most fantastic and characterful pup!
Although she was able to breathe through a makeshift tube, this came loose soon after her arrival in the UK (she sneezed it out during a particularly rambunctious play session – testament to her love for life!) Thanks to the funding raised by the WAHF community, Millie was fitted with a permanent metal implant which allows her to breathe and eat as comfortably as any other dog.
Millie lives with her beautiful new sister @maggiethewunderdog – two dogs who have no idea that they’re any different from any other dog, and are as happy, healthy and loved as all dogs deserve to be.
Both dogs arrived in the UK together within just weeks of our learning about their story, and have since received incredible bespoke surgery to allow them to live a long and healthy life. (You can read more about Millie and Mitya’s recovery on our Instagram). They’re both enjoying all the luxuries that come with being in the most amazing adoptive homes: playing with their new four-legged siblings; enjoying long walks in the fields (and even longer snoozes on the sofa afterwards); and generally revelling in the experience of being loved, safe, healthy and happy at last.
You can follow their amazing new lives on Instagram: @milliethewunderdog, @cotswoldkat
Millie and Mitya’s story has moved hundreds of people to incredible acts of generosity. Inspired by Peggy, we want to make sure this amazing chain of kindness and change is paid forward to the next generation of pups in need. That’s why we set up the Remarkable Rescue Fund (previously the Millie and Mitya Fund), a dedicated funding grant that allows the rescue of many more dogs just like them! The fund exists to provide bespoke care, treatment and homes for hundreds more dogs with severe injuries and disabilities.
Please consider making a donation to this amazing cause – there are still thousands of dogs battling against the odds, just waiting for their chance at salvation.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our utterly incredible community for raising the £12,000 needed to fund the rescue and treatment of Millie and Mitya in just one week! Without your generosity, this story would not have been possible. We are so very moved by your support, and are so grateful for the opportunity to change these two very special lives. Thank you x
Dogs are a huge part of the George family, one which our very own founder Nikki Tibbles is so proud to be a part of. As such, it felt only fitting to set up a charitable committee dedicated to canine welfare. George are proud to be London’s most dog-friendly members club and we’re proud to have collaborated with them on their latest venture.
Their launch party was a huge success, with proceeds of over £3,500 going to Wild at Heart Foundation – that’s enough to sterilise 116 dogs in Puerto Rico, or 300 in Borneo! This is just a small reason why events such as these, and the generosity of such supporters as George, means so much to us!
And what a launch party it was! We were joined by George’s fabulous committee members (all of whom are long-time dog lovers!) and enjoyed a special auction, with prizes from the likes of Country Dog Hotel, Hunter and George themselves, who kindly donated a dinner for 4.
A huge thank you to everyone who donated prizes: Josh Wood | Leah Wood | Wild at Heart | Bird & Wolf | Pets Pyjamas | Frame | Goat | Hunter | George | Country Dog Hotel | Dr Sebagh
On the night, George even treated us (and our canine companions!) to luxury dog treats, dog-themed cocktails, a dog show, luxury grooming station, doggy ice cream and canine-friendly entertainment, which provided a lot of laughs for everyone!
Our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended the launch event, contributing generously to its success, and most importantly to George for affording us the honour of being your first chosen cause to support.
We can’t wait to see how the George Charitable Dogs Committee grows and continues to support dog welfare causes throughout the year.