Downing Street goes to the dogs
A Jack Russell that just weeks ago was facing almost certain death after being abandoned by dog traders will today take up residence in one of the most famous addresses in the world after being adopted by Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. It will join the Prime Minister and his girlfriend – as well as the notoriously territorial Larry the cat – in Downing Street. The 15-week-old dog was rescued by a charity after a tip-off that it was being abandoned.
JUST weeks ago, this Jack Russell was facing almost certain death, abandoned by dog traders who thought that a misaligned jaw would mean that it would never find a home.
But today the puppy is taking up residence in one of the most famous addresses in the world after being adopted by Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. It will join the Prime Minister and his girlfriend – as well as Larry the cat – in Downing Street.
The 15-week-old dog was rescued by Eileen Jones, who runs Friends of Animals Wales, after a tip off that the animal had an undershot jaw and was being abandoned.
Ms Jones said she often received calls about puppies that were at risk and would go to meet the tipsters in laybys to rescue the animals. Her volunteer-run charity specialises in taking sick dogs and arranges for them to be fostered before a permanent home can be found. It thought that if the puppy had not been rescued by Ms Jones it would have been shot.
Ms Jones, 66, will be delivering the Jack Russell today along with one of her volunteer coordinators and the person who has been fostering it. Plans for the adoption have been in place for weeks and the puppy has been living in a foster home alongside a cat to get it ready to share territory with Larry, the notorious Chief Mouser.
But Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds will not escape the checks every person adopting a dog has to have. Ms Jones will be carrying out home checks and will ensure “everything is being done in the same way as every other adoption”. Ms Jones said: “He has been living with a cat for a few weeks and from my understanding there are a lot of things in place for training. He is only a baby so he is going to be very workable and he is a delightful little pup. “I think he will settle in fine although there may be more issues on the side of the cat, but as long as the puppy learns who is boss – the cat – then everything will be fine.” Mr Johnson’s suggestion of getting a dog at Downing Street was said to have been welcomed enthusiastically by staff, some of whom are said to have offered to help with walks. Unlike Larry, who is a permanent resident at No 10, the puppy will belong to Miss Symonds and Mr Johnson and live with them at No 11.
The couple is said to have chosen the dog to highlight strict new anti-puppy farming legislation, which comes into force in April.
Named Lucy’s Law after a Cavalier King Charles spaniel that died after it was rescued from a puppy farm, it bans the sale of kittens and puppies from third parties, meaning buyers must deal with breeders directly.
Marc Abrahams, the TV vet who has led the campaign for Lucy’s Law and who put Miss Symonds in touch with Ms Jones, said that he was “overwhelmed” that the couple had chosen to draw attention to the work of smaller volunteer-led charities.
“Lucy’s Law is now being highlighted by the Prime Minister and that is being seen by the world and hopefully they will take notice,” he said.
“They have saved a life and it will save so many others as it will open people’s minds.”
The Government passed the legislation in May and Wales has since followed suit, with pressure on to Scotland to introduce similar restrictions on puppy farming.