Bakery raiding dog in search of love

Two starving dogs looted the bakery they were abandoned outside before arriving at Blue Cross.  

Cane corso Rupert and German shepherd cross Pretzel were spotted being left at a row of shops by a van driver in Hertfordshire in December.  

Underweight and hungry, the doe-eyed dogs raided the bakery there, gorging on hot cross buns.  

Paige Carrington-Coles, Pet Welfare Assistant, says: “They were abandoned outside a bakery, and they went in and raided it and ate all of the hot cross buns.”  

Worried bakery staff contacted the police, and the pair were quickly picked up by the local dog warden, before spending a mandatory seven days in council kennels to see if they were reclaimed.  

Nobody came forward. And so, Rupert, five, and Pretzel, three, were brought to our rehoming centre in Kimpton, Hertfordshire.  

Due to suspected kennel cough, they spent three weeks in isolation where both dogs had plenty of TLC and were placed on special diets to help them put on weight.  

Rupert also needed treatment for pressure sores on his elbows and paws, as well as ongoing medication for itchy and inflamed ears – likely caused by an allergy.  

Initially worried, Rupert has come on leaps and bounds with training and developing confidence since being in Blue Cross care.  

Paige continues: “He was really worried at first but is now coming out of his shell.  

“His training is amazing. At first, he was pulling on the lead towards cars and other dogs, but we’ve done lots of connection work with him and now he checks in with us when he sees these triggers.”  

During more than two months in our care, Rupert has developed into a happy dog who is eager to learn and spend time with people. The icing on the cake would now be for him to find a loving home.  

Pretzel has already found a new family and Rupert has also started his search, but larger breeds like him sadly tend to take longer than normal to be adopted.  

Lynsey Smith, Pet Welfare Assistant, explains: “It can be tough for a big dog like Rupert. He exhibits such good behaviours and is a brilliant example of his breed. But he needs a family who can cope with his strength as well as the public perception that comes with having a dog of his size and looks.”