Buster is my best mate. Paul O’Grady’s support is just life changing
HE dedicated much of his life to man’s best friend, and now Paul O’Grady’s animal-loving legacy is continuing beyond the grave.
The For the Love of Dogs star left £500,000 to creatures in need when he died last March aged 67.
And £20,000 of it went to StreetVet – a charity which offers free medical care to pets living on the streets.
Paul, who found fame through his Lily Savage drag act, was the organisation’s ambassador and worked tirelessly to better the lives of homeless hounds.
We joined StreetVet volunteers in London and Bristol to see the late star’s legacy in action.
The two city-centre teams are among 24 across the UK who give up their time to help animals sleeping rough.
Some 309,000 people in England are living homeless and at least a quarter have a companion animal.
Our first patient is Buster, a 17-yearold Jack Russell/shih tzu cross, who needs medicine for his creaky joints.
The elderly pooch – who shares a name with Paul’s own rescue shih tzu/ bichon frise cross, star of The Paul O’Grady show – has been roughing it in Bristol for over a decade and is a regular at the city’s twice-monthly StreetVet clinic.
Doting owner JD, 46, says: “Buster is my best mate. We’ve spent every day for the last 17 years together. Without this help I doubt he would still be by my side today – their support has changed my life and I don’t say that lightly.”
Buster is among 2,500 pets treated by StreetVet since its launch in 2016.
Qualified vets and vet nurses create makeshift clinics on the pavement and offer everything from general health checks and vaccines to microchipping and flea treatments.
They also carry an array of pet essentials with them such as food, toys, collars and coats.
And it’s not just for dogs – care is available for all companion animals, including cats, ferrets, lizards, snakes and rabbits.
Next to be seen in Bristol are American bullys Sky, three, and Bella, 10, who have been sofa-surfing for four years. The excitable duo, who are set to be
spayed next month to stop them having puppies, drop by with owner Kev for a pre-operation check-up.
The procedure can cost up to £600 but is being provided free of charge by StreetVet.
Despite relying on donations to get by, the charity tries to pick up the bill for all essential surgeries.
Donations like Paul’s make it all possible, says vet Shelagh Wall, who
heads the Bristol outreach. “It’s massive – we do our best to get volunteers, products, etc, but there’s a huge cost when operations are needed.
“We’re extremely grateful to Paul. Donations like his allow us to provide life-saving care and keep pets with their beloved owners.”
The TV star has been much mourned since his death from sudden cardiac arrhythmia. As the country’s best-known animal lover, he famously shared his Kent farmhouse with a menagerie of creatures, including five dogs, goats, sheep, chickens and barn owls. In his will, he left £25,000 to each of his dogs to ensure their care.
The actor and presenter became involved with StreetVet while filming his hit ITV show For the Love of Dogs and campaigned for animals right until the end. StreetVet co-founder and clinical director Jade Spratt says: “To say Paul was wonderful with our clients and their pets would be an understatement.
“He immediately put everyone he met at ease with his warmth, humour and humility.
“He had a heart of gold, championing the human-animal bond and the work that we do.
“We were truly lucky to have been able to spend time in his wonderful and amusing company and we miss him terribly.”
Back in London, it is time for cat Spangles’ annual booster jab.
Owner Danny was given the 10-year-old tortoiseshell as a kitten and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
But before StreetVet he struggled to get her the care she needed because he didn’t have a bank card and many vets don’t accept cash.
He says: “I love her to bits. She’s my best mate and we’re both very grateful to StreetVet for the kindness they’ve shown us both.”
The duo recently moved into sheltered accommodation thanks to StreetVet’s hostel initiative, which works with local housing authorities to ensure pets and their owners are housed together.
Vet nurse Soula Richards, 31, says volunteering for the charity is the most rewarding thing she’s ever done.
She says: “It’s all about supporting the human-animal bond.
“For most of our clients, their pet is their whole world and our job is to support that as best we can – and by helping the animals we help their owners too.
“I can’t offer them money and I can’t offer them a place to stay – but I can use my qualifications to help their beloved pet, and that means everything.”