Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Lilly happy to be part of family
For almost 10 years, a lovable English bull terrier has waited patiently at a rescue centre for someone to give her a new home.
But now the longest resident of the Dogs Trust Canterbury is set to see out her twilight years in its care.
Lilly Pig has become one of the family at the kennels in Radfall Road, Chestfield, after arriving in 2006 as a boisterous youngster who was too much of a handful for her owner.
One of the problems in re-homing Lilly is that she was born deaf, making it more of a challenge to look after her.
“In her first few years, we were actively looking to find her a loving home,” said Harriet Blasket, the re-homing centre manager at Dogs Trust Canterbury.
“However, Lilly has very specific needs and loves the centre and her close-knit team of carers.
“Rather mellow in her old age, she is so happy and content here. Although we never say never about finding her a home, we imagine that Lilly Pig will see out her retirement years as part of our family.”
For most of Lilly’s life, one of her closest companions has been long-serving trust volunteer Jan Deeker, who has become so attached to her that she has a tattoo of the terrier on her stomach.
And despite moving well away from the area, she continues to visit the centre to take Lilly for walks, even on her 57th birthday at the weekend. “When we met on my first day, the connection was instant and I continued to visit her twice a week,” she said.
“She stole my heart a decade ago through her loving and loyal nature, and by being downright funny.
“She makes me laugh every time I visit her – whether she is on the agility equipment or just playing. She is highly amusing”
Unfortunately, Jan, who has donated more than 1,000 hours of volunteering to the trust, cannot offer her a permanent home.
But Lilly has become a sponsor dog with her own supporters who contribute towards her care.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Dogs Trust Canterbury, or giving a dog a home, can call the centre on 0300 3030292 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk