Ex-Blue Cross stray pooch to star in Crufts 2018 rescue agility

a dog and woman on a canoe
Tigger paddleboarding with his owner Sarah

Ex-Blue Cross stray pooch to star in Crufts 2018 rescue agility

 

The team at Blue Cross rehoming centre in Tiverton will be keeping a close-eye on this year’s Crufts coverage as ex-Blue Cross dog Tigger takes to the main stage in Friday’s Rescue Dog Agility.

 

Tigger was rehomed from the centre at Chilton Gate in 2016 to Sarah Franklin who has been incredible in helping Tigger come out of his shell and become a happy, more confident dog. She has even trained him to paddleboard with her, and he is a natural.

 

Sarah said: “Tigger and I have been doing agility for about 18 months now, it's really built up his confidence and he absolutely loves it, it gives him a great workout mentally as well as physically. We're taking part in the Crufts rescue dog agility as it's an amazing opportunity to show what rescue dogs can do and to represent mixed breed dogs, as far as we can guess Tigs is a Staffie mix.”

 

Sarah was looking for a Staffordshire bull terrier to rehome when she walked into the rehoming centre in 2016.

 

Sarah adds: “I love Staffies. I love the fact that they smile, and he’s the perfect size; he’s a medium sized dog and he’s quite energetic, but at the same time he’s happy to chill out and relax. And he's just a funny little dog, you can take him anywhere and do anything with him.”

 

Tigger came to Tiverton’s rehoming centre as a stray from the dog warden. He was worried about everything, including people. Tigger waited with the dog warden for a week for his owner to claim him but no one stepped forward to take him home. The team at Blue Cross Tiverton rehoming centre knew he could make a family complete if he was given a second shot at happiness, and welcomed him into the shelter.

Kerry Hall, Animal Welfare Assistant at Tiverton’s rehoming centre, said: “We took Tigger on from the dog warden when his seven days were up. He was very shy and underweight and showed behaviours that dogs often use to try and diffuse or stop conflict from happening, called ‘appeasement behaviours’, he spent a lot of time with his tail tucked between his legs.”

Tigger jumping

This behaviour is common in worried dogs, so the rehoming team had lots of work to do to build Tigger’s trust as well as his confidence.

Tigger jumping

Tigger’s owner Sarah said: “I wanted to offer a dog that hadn’t necessarily the greatest start a good life, because I’m quite active and outdoorsy so there’s plenty of opportunity to take a dog along on lots of trips and adventures. We do all sorts together. On top of the agility, we go hiking, he comes out running with me, he comes paddleboarding, we’ve been sailing and canoeing; pretty much everything!”

 

Kerry, Blue Cross Tiverton, adds: “We’re really excited to hear that Tigger is doing so well. He’s a super dog and is clear he’s a clever and loving boy. Sarah has done a great job and we’ll be tuning into Crufts to see him in action on Friday for sure.”

 

Tigger will perform on at roughly 1.30pm, Friday 9 March 2018.

 

There are many pets waiting for their loving homes and second chances at the Tiverton rehoming centre, if you would like to adopt, or would like to donate towards their care, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • Photos and video of Tigger are available, please contact the media team.
  • The Blue Cross pet rehoming centre in Tiverton has been helping homeless and abandoned pets across North Devon and parts of Somerset since 1985. The centre rehomes hundreds of cats and dogs every year. To contact the centre, call 0300 777 1560 or drop in at Chilton Gate, Bickleigh, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 8RS (check the website or call ahead for opening times).
  • Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets for over 120 years. We help thousands of pets in need every month by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help and find them loving homes. We also offer education for current and future pet owners plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their pet companion. Pets help us in so many ways and they depend entirely on us, with your support we can give back to more pets in need. Pets change lives. We change theirs.
  • For more information, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk

Media contact

Sam Murray, Blue Cross press office: 020 7932 4070 / [email protected]

Media Team, press office: 0300 777 1950 / [email protected]

 

 

 

— Page last updated 21/12/2021