Back in 2008, the Scottish SPCA had the privilege of being invited to take part in the Paul O’Grady Show on Channel 4. A section of the programme was dedicated to dogs across the UK looking for a new home, and we were chosen to represent Scotland.
Myself, a colleague and Bobby the border collie travelled to London from Dundee by train. On arrival, we were collected at the station by a limo and transported to the studio, where we soon met Paul.
I vividly remember how nice, warm and great fun he was, and how he made us feel right at home. He was so welcoming that any nerves we had were put immediately at ease.
We got to meet with the staff and dogs from Battersea and the RSPCA. The celebrity guests on the show that day were Harry Enfield, Graham Norton and June Whitfield. They each had a dog to showcase, alongside a staff member at each respective charity, and we were paired with the lovely June Whitfield.
June gave a brief history about Bobby and walked him around the set. Bobby was very well behaved and, if I do say so myself, had all the makings of a television superstar. June then made a wonderful appeal to the viewers to help find a forever home for him.
The dogs (and staff) were treated like stars for the rest of the day. We were put up in a hotel overnight, and the next day we made our way home by train. When we arrived back at the centre, we were delighted to have many enquiries from people offering to give Bobby a new home, and he went to his forever family a week later.
Paul was championing animal welfare long before his programme, Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, aired. I like to think of the late Paul being met at the rainbow bridge by dogs he lost, dogs he saved, and dogs who simply heard of his kindness and all the good he did for their kind. Rest in peace, Paul, you were one of a kind.
Use of cruel collars is shocking to Scottish public
Alongside The Kennel Club, we recently hosted a drop-in session at Holyrood to call for a ban on electric shock collars. The session was sponsored by our long-term supporter and dog welfare advocate, Christine Grahame MSP, with support from Maurice Golden MSP. Our aim was to raise awareness of the negative impact of shock collars, and urge action.
We received 47 reports from 2019 to 2021 regarding electric shock collars being used on dogs. In 2021, we conducted a survey of over 2,800 Scottish people and found that 83% supported a total ban on the use of collars that give dogs an electric shock. I will keep you updated on how this progresses.
Sharon Comrie is community and engagement manager for the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)
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