Scots rescuers who spent hours securing a pack of dogs abandoned near Moffat have been reunited with Toffee, Charlotte, Rae, Meadow, Glen and Brodie.
The heartwarming reunion came exactly a year after the incident which prompted people across the country to raise thousands of pounds for the care of the animals.
Ten of them were found roaming on the B719 between Moffat and Greenhillstairs on July 9 last year.
They were exhausted, terrified, underweight and in terrible condition.
Sadly, four of them were shot that day by a local farmer after they attacked sheep.
Sergeant Iain Monro and Police Constable Kelby Kirkpatrick were first on the scene when reports came in about the dogs being abandoned. Additional officers along with Lee and Roger Herron, from Lost Dogs Dumfries and Galloway, were also involved in the operation.
Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre (DGCRC), near Glencaple, later took in the dogs - known as the Moffat Six. In the last 12 months staff at the centre have worked hard building their confidence and encouraging them to play and interact.
They’re now thriving, and looking for their forever homes.
Sgt Monro said: “It was incredible for us to see the dogs and how much they’ve progressed in the last 12 months.
“The improvement in their confidence is like night and day and they’re in such good condition now. You couldn’t get near them last year, but now they’re curious and they want to interact. We really enjoyed spending time with them.”
Lee, who has been volunteering to help with lost and stray dogs for around six years, said: “It took a long time to build their trust and secure them that day, it was a real challenge. It was clear they’d never been handled before or had a collar and lead on, however, they did really well and we were all so relieved when we had them all safe and secure.
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“To see how they’ve improved is amazing. They are so playful and just want to have fun. I think people would be really surprised by them in comparison to the photos of that day last year. Myself and Roger absolutely loved spending time with them one year on and we really hope they can find the homes they deserve soon.”
DGCRC’s Emma Scott said the staff had worked hard on their progress and they’ve really improved, especially over the last few months, and they’d love to see some genuine interest from prospective new owners.
She said: “It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the Moffat Six came to us. Their journey has been an incredible one, filled with small steps and significant progress.
“We are incredibly proud of their progress and feel that most of them are ready to embark on their next chapter – they deserve their own ‘happy ever after’.
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“While their progress has been tremendous, they will need continued support as they transition into their forever homes. They require a calm, patient adopter who lives in a rural area and can provide them with plenty of outdoor space to run and play.
They all have their own unique personalities and deserve a loving home where they can continue to grow and enjoy life. If you have the time, space, and love to offer, please consider adopting one of these incredible dogs.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about the dogs, or to express interest in rehoming them, contact Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre on 01387 770210 or at www.caninerescue.co.uk
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