Sussex vet team member gives Turkey rescue dog second chance at life

Jackie Lucas, receptionist at Linnaeus-owned St Anne’s Veterinary Surgery in Eastbourne, was overheard talking about the loss of her own Labrador and desire to find another dog.

Help was immediately on hand as Lisa Smart, founder of Happy Paws Puppy Rescue, a charity dedicated to rescuing dogs from desperate situations, just happened to overhear.

Now, Jackie is the proud owner of a chocolate lab called Harry, who was rescued by the charity after surviving an earthquake in Turkey.

Jackie, who lives in Eastbourne, explained: “We got to know about Harry by total chance.

“Lisa had called into the surgery at St Anne’s and heard me saying to another client I was looking to rehome a Labrador.

“She said they had just taken a chocolate Labrador off the streets in Turkey following an earthquake there and was looking for a home for him.

“I just said straight away ‘I’ll have him’ and my husband Mark agreed. After seeing photos of him that evening, we were smitten.”

The timing was absolutely perfect for Jackie and Mark and three months later they welcomed Harry into their home.

Jackie added: “We’d just had to say a sad goodbye to our old, black Labrador Gillan, who was 13.

“We were looking for a rescue Labrador to help our other dog Bess through her grief as she was very depressed.

“The adoption process was easy as Lisa and her volunteers went through all the paperwork and processes, and everyone here at St Anne’s were very excited for me.

“It took 12 weeks and we’re delighted. The best things about adopting Harry is he’s helping keep Bess, our other Labrador, feeling young and we’ve been able to give a lovely dog a chance of a good life, rather than be left to fend for himself.

“He is a very lovable, bundle of fun. He is also very boisterous. We have had him some months now and say he is ‘a work in process’, as Harry thinks everyone and every living thing is his friend!

“He has needed a lot of training work put in by both myself and Mark, and I am currently going to dog training classes with him and hopefully gaining his Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze award.

“Overall, Harry has settled in very well and made himself at home although it took him a while to get used to our rescue cat Sooty - but they are friends now.

“He’s even learned to turn the touch type bedroom lamp on to wake my husband up for his breakfast!”

For more information on the award-winning St Anne’s Veterinary Group, which has four practices in and around Eastbourne, visit https://www.stannesvets.co.uk/.