The hound of the golf club

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 19, 2012

One Cardiff Dogs Home resident is lucky to be alive after being abandoned by her owner and forced to fend for herself for almost a month in June’s torrential weather.

Bute’s survival can be attributed to the kind hearted actions of staff from Cardiff Golf Club. They alerted Cardiff Dogs Home to the stray and assisted with her rescue after club members started noticing the 2-3 year old Cane Corso bitch foraging for food and shelter in the woodlands surrounding the golf course.

Despite being half the recommended weight for a dog of her breed and age, it took almost four days for Cardiff Council’s Dogs Warden, Steve Green, to coax Bute out of hiding and rescue her as she was too timid to be approached and would flee if anyone came near her.

However, Bute is now on the road to recovery after spending the last month at Cardiff Dogs Home where staff and volunteers have been helping her to recuperate.

She even managed a recent trip back to the Golf Club to visit her saviours, club stewards Christine and Mark Wilby and golf pro Terry Hansen.

During the visit, Christine Wilby was keen to point out that since her rescue everyone at the club has continued to ask after Bute, wanting to know how “the hound of the golf club” is doing and if she’s found a new home yet.

Commenting on the lengthy rescue mission, Cardiff Councillor Ashley Govier said: “I would like to thank Steve and everyone at the golf club for their patience and determination, without which Bute’s rescue would have been much more difficult and could have easily hindered her recovery.

“Bute’s case was unusual but not unique. Rescuing a dog when it’s scared and unsure of its surroundings is never easy and requires careful judgement and actions if it’s to be done successfully.

“Fortunately, Bute’s story has a happy ending – especially as she has been recently re-homed with a new family and seems to be settling in well. But this isn’t always the case.

“There is absolutely no excuse for irresponsible dog ownership and anyone found to be acting in this way could face legal action and/or a fine.

Do you have a passion for dog welfare?

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 11, 2011

Cardiff Dogs Home is looking for volunteers to form a ‘Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home’ group to bring together people who share a passion for improving dog welfare.

The Dogs Home is holding its first meeting on Thursday 14 July 2011 at 7pm in Committee Room 3 at County Hall. Anyone who feels they would like to get involved and become a ‘friend’ of the Dogs Home, is welcome to attend.

Members of the new group will support the Dogs Home in improving the visitor experience for those looking to re-home a dog from Cardiff Dogs Home.  They will also promote responsible dog ownership and highlight the work done by the Dogs Home which aims to find the best possible home for each dog in its care.

There are currently 40 dogs living at the Dogs Home, and one of the priorities for this year is raising money to fund a project to modernise the kennels which have been in place since the Home was built nearly 20 years ago.  The ‘Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home’ will help fundraise and support this initiative. Other key priorities for the group will include promoting responsible dog ownership at community events and distributing information about re-homing and micro-chipping dogs.

Cllr Margaret Jones, Executive Member for the Environment said: “The Cardiff Dogs Home looks after more than 1200 dogs a year, and is really committed to caring for all of the dogs in its care. I would urge anyone who has an interest in the welfare of the stray dogs of Cardiff and the work that goes into finding them new homes to attend the meeting and think about joining the ‘Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home’ group. There are many ways to support Cardiff Dogs’ Home. Whether you are able to volunteer your time or make donations, no matter what you do, it all helps.”

If you are unable to attend the meeting on July 14 and would like to be involved or require further information then please contact Sarah Brown on 2087 1146 sbrown@cardiff.gov.uk or the Dogs Home on 2071 1243.