Are your rescue dogs tired of being judged purely on their looks? Are they bored of only being invited to play fetch with the pup next door if they conform to a ‘breed standard’?
Well it is their time to shine as the RSPCA’s alternative dog show Ruffs returns for its second year to celebrate dogs for the right reasons – their health, happiness and welfare.
The dog show with a difference welcomes all types of pooches, no matter what they look like, to compete in six categories from the Golden Oldies to the Perfectly Imperfect.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “Ruffs is born out of frustration with beauty pageant style dog shows like Crufts which judge dogs on the basis of their looks, even when it’s those looks that can cause them to suffer unnecessarily.
“Our finalist could never enter a beauty pageant style dog show but we think they’re perfect!
“Last year was our first ever Ruffs and it was overwhelming how the public responded to this competition – with hundreds of thousands of people voting throughout the week.”
Each category has been narrowed down to five finalists and voting is open today for the Happiest Hound on the RSPCA’s official Facebook page.
ALREADY A WINNER: Luna has overcome so much hardship in life
But coming up later in the week will be the competition for this year’s Rescue Dog and local lady Luna, from Hyde, is in the running.
Luna had a rough start in life. She was reported to the RSPCA after being spotted in someone’s garden in a pitiful state suffering from severe mange.
The courageous canine had barely any fur and had sores all over her body when she was seized from her owners, who were later convicted under the animal welfare act and banned from keeping animals.
Poor Luna was fostered by the inspector who rescued her as her condition meant that she needed medicated baths once a week and daily antibiotics.
One day the inspector and Luna visited the place where Melissa, Luna’s now owner worked and she was smitten.
Melissa said: “I instantly fell in love with Luna, she came to live with us soon after. Luna is a bit of a ball freak. If there is a ball in sight, nothing else in the world exists!
“She has lots of energy but given the chance would be a couch potato curled up on your knee. She loves cuddles and is my little shadow.”
Luna is battling it out against four other wonderful tail waggers – who have overcome adversity and to be happy hounds – Todd, Millie, Maisie and Woody.
See all the candidates for the RSPCA Rescue Dog 2015 below.
Todd – from York
Todd was rescued from a travellers’ site and taken to York and District RSPCA.
Millie was signed over to RSPCA Danaher when she was just a few days old. Still only a young puppy now, her life hangs in the balance as she was born with an inoperable spinal deformity.
As well as having no tail, this has left her weak in her hind legs.
While she does run around like a normal playful puppy, she sometimes struggles to stand up and can be quite wobbly.
Vets have said that as she grows she will go one way or the other – stronger or weaker, only time will tell.
Maisie – from Suffolk
She was rescued by the RSPCA from a multi animal household with 30 other dogs. Maisie and many of the other dogs were being used to breed from and she was in a poor state when she first arrived in the centre.
She had never walked on a lead before, she wasn’t house trained and poor Maisie needed to learn how to be a dog.
Despite her awful past Maisie is now a much loved family dog.
Woody – Felixstowe
He was abandoned with his four brothers and sisters just before Christmas. They were found cold, weak, dehydrated and full of worms.
Unfortunately two of the puppies passed away due to illness and neglect – Woody is lucky to be alive.
Woody was adopted by his new owners from RSPCA Martlesham.
Luna – Hyde
Luna had a rough start in life. She was reported to the RSPCA after being spotted in someone’s garden in a pitiful state suffering from severe mange.
The courageous canine had barely any fur and had sores all over her body when she was seized from her owners, who were later convicted under the animal welfare act and banned from keeping animals.
Poor Luna was fostered by the inspector who rescued her as her condition meant that she needed medicated baths once a week and daily antibiotics.
One day the inspector and Luna visited the place where Melissa, Luna’s now owner worked and she was smitten.
Voting for all other categories will be staggered throughout the week, starting at 10am each day. Every category will go up in an album on the RSPCA Facebook page.
The voting for Ruffs Happy Hound closes at 8pm tonight.
The public will be able to pick which pooch they think deserves the Ruffs’ titles by liking their photos – whoever gets the most likes wins.
The top dog in each category will be put through to the Best in Show final on Sunday and the overall champion will be announced that day
Voting schedule:
Tuesday March 3 – Golden Oldies
Wednesday March 4 – RSPCA rescue dog
Thursday March 5 – Perfectly Imperfect
Friday March 6 – Best Rescued Ex-Breeding
Saturday March 7 – Best Transformation
Sunday March 8 – Best in Show
