Anne walks eight miles to ensure stray dogs fed

Kennel keeper braves winter elements trudging through deep snow

A dedicated kennel keeper walked around eight miles in deep snow to ensure dogs at Bandeath stray dog shelter were safe and fed.

Anne Vines (58) laced up her walking boots and wrapped up warm as she embarked on an epic three-hour trek with dog Ludo – a nine-year-old Italian Spinone – on Friday morning.

And while Ludo was delighted to be enjoying an extra long walk, Anne bravely battled terrible winter conditions on her way to work – adamant that the animals staying at the shelter wouldn’t spend the day alone.

She told the Observer that she set-off from her home in Tullibody around 7am before walking alongside Alloa Road towards Stirling.

They then turned left at Manor Powis roundabout before heading towards Springkerse, and finished their journey off by walking east, through Fallin, and in to the shelter near Throsk.

She said: “It was my only way to get in to work and it didn’t really bother me. I walk all the time, so it’s not a problem. It took us three hours but the snow was pretty deep.

“I wasn’t too tired but I did stop for a coffee before going in to see the dogs. It was just a case of letting them out, feeding them and cleaning out their cages.”

Anne, who has six dogs of her own, added: “A colleague of mine has a 4x4 so they drove in from Stenhousemuir when the weather was bad on Thursday, but even then it took them two hours.

“So I just walked in on Friday – but thankfully I managed to get a lift back home.

“Some people were putting messages on Facebook saying that I had walked from Tullibody to Bandeath, and they were trying to get me a lift back – although I wasn’t involved in that.

“It was Sid Nodes from Fallin, he does the treescapes, who came and got us in the end.

“I’ve known him for a long time anyway so that was fine, and we were back for about 11.30am.”

As the brutal winter weather hit last week people came forward to share their stories of those who they feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help others.

The Stirling Observer posted a message on our Facebook page on Friday asking for people to nominate their local hero – and many were keen to alert us of Anne’s efforts.

Alicia Sapphie Fraser commented: “Thank heavens for Anne’s dedication to these stray dogs.

“Also somebody volunteered to ensure she got driven home after she had ensured all dogs were fed and cared for.”

Danielle Mason added: “Anne at Bandeath deserves a medal. She walked eight miles to ensure the dogs were fed and safe.”

And Jean Ann Griffiths posted: “That’s dedication. Wonderful woman deserves a medal.”

Anne deserves a medal. Thank heavens for Anne’s decidation to these stray dogs . . .