Dog rescue, rehoming and adoption in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

In 1996 I was 22 years old and, up to that point, I had never seen my dad get upset. That all changed after our vet delivered the shattering news that our family pet cat would have to be euthanised. She was 16 years old and had suddenly become blind. It may be a cliché, but it was truly the kindest thing to do. We were all devastated, but this was the first time I remember seeing my ‘tough as old boots’ dad become emotional. And it surprised me. Looking back, I don’t know why it did because she (like all pets, particularly cats and dogs) had become an integral part of the family unit. We love them and they, seemingly, love us right back.

There is something about smiley-faced dogs. This may seem an odd statement, but you know what I mean: there are some breeds of dog that seem to have happiness permanently etched on their faces. It is a slightly surreal phenomenon, yet curiously heart-warming in a personifying, Disneyesque fashion. This makes the contrast all the more striking and startling whenever I see the face of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. When I look at these dogs I see an element of pathos in their eyes that betrays their otherwise lovely faces. My interpretation of this is as an expression of sadness at the way their breed has been negatively portrayed and vilified in recent years. If life was actually a Disney cartoon, the Staffies would be rising up in (peaceful) protest against their oppressors – ie, the British media – or at least suing them for libel.