DINNER’S ON THE DOG! Big hearted pooch lover donates her ‘Pet Pics’ food prize to charity

Sep 18 2007 Jenny Wood

A BIG hearted greyhound lover whose pooch has been voted Perthshire’s top dog has generously donated her prize to charity.

Loveable lurcher Peggy-Sue was voted by PA readers as Perthshire’s favourite dog in our Pet Pics competition, and owner Vicky Findlay has honourably handed over her £270 food prize from Perth’s Pets@Home to the Scottish rehoming charity Greyhound Awareness League.

“When we entered the competition we always said if we won we would donate the prize to charity, we never intended to keep it,” Vicky, owner of Perth dog walking business Walkies, told the PA.

“I asked all my clients if they saw Peggy-Sue in the paper to vote for her because it was for a good cause.

“And they must have.

“When we found out we had won we were thrilled. Peggy-Sue has had such a big head since!” admitted Vicky.

And in an incredibly generous gesture, staff at the Perth branch of Pets@Home also added a box of toys to be donated to the dog charity.

Laura de la Haye, deputy manager at the Perth pet shop, told the PA: “It’s is such a nice gesture that Vicky is giving away her prize.

“To work here you have to be a pet lover and when we heard what she was doing we got together some dog toys to go to the charity as well. Everything helps,” she added.

The charity which has benefited from Peggy-Sue’s PA win, the Greyhound Awareness League, is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming ex-racing, ex-working or abandoned greyhounds and lurchers.

Vicky, her husband Dean Watson and their loveable lurcher are well aware of the plight of unwanted dogs, Peggy-Sue is a rescue dog herself and was in a sorry state when she was found two years ago.

“She had been used for coursing and was abandoned when she was three months old with a broken leg, mange and a heart murmur,” Vicky recalled.

“But that was two years ago and now she is a gorgeous, happy and healthy dog.”

Vicky and Dean also have two other rescue dogs at their home in Perth’s Craigie area.

A 12-year-old Collie called Chloe-Roo was discovered wandering the streets in Dundee, and 11-year-old lurcher Lucy-Locket abandoned in Ireland.

Vicky hopes more strays can be given a second chance to find a loving home.

“I know when people are looking for a dog many automatically go to breeders to get a puppy, but it really is worth considering getting a rescue dog.

“There are hundreds of them out there looking for a loving home where they can go on to be wonderful pets,” urged 35-year-old Vicky.

For more information about the Greyhound Awareness League – including enquiries about adoption, fostering or donations – call 0870 888 7277, email info@gal.org.uk, visit www.gal.org.uk or write to the

You can contact the Greyhound Awareness League at PO Box 26489, Glasgow, G74 9BY.