A dog who was rescued with his one-eyed mother and siblings from appalling conditions on an illegal puppy farm is now enjoying the sights and sounds of Europe.
Poodle cross Jack, along with other dogs, was discovered living in squalor at a property in the West Midlands in 2021 during a raid by the RSPCA and police.
Just five-weeks-old at the time, Jack had been bred as part of an extensive commercial dog breeding operation at the location which was finally shut down after members of the public raised the alarm about pets they had purchased which later became ill.
RSPCA officers found Jack in a barren outdoor kennel with no water. Other neglected dogs were living in substandard sheds and pens, and some had ear and dental disease.
Now, nearly two-and-a-half-years after he was rescued his life could not be more different. Jack was adopted by retired clinical animal behaviourist Julie Bedford, from the RSPCA’s Woodside Animal Centre in Leicester – where Jack and his family were cared for following their rescue.
Along with his canine companion Tinkerbell, aged five, a poodle cross who came from the charity’s Chesterfield and North Derbyshire branch, Jack is now spending up to six months of the year touring around Europe in Julie’s campervan.
So far the well-travelled dog has been to nine countries including France, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia, visiting everything from castles and monasteries to memorials and amphitheatres – all of which have been captured on camera by Julie.
His adventures have included crossing the Millau Viaduct in France, a tour of Buda Castle in Budapest, and going under the Roman Trier Amphitheatre in Germany.
Julie, 62, who lives in Gloucestershire, said: “I’ve always loved travelling and have backpacked around South America, Asia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and the USA. But now I go with Jack and Tink, I always check ahead and make sure the places we’re going to visit are dog friendly, which is much easier in mainland Europe.
“We tend to do outdoor type things and checking out World Unesco sites is a good start – we’ve been to some amazing places.
“On one of our trips last year I took a photo of them on the border of Austria and Slovenia – there’s a post that marks the spot and a line running through the area. They’re side by side but Jack is in one country and Tink in the other. I love things like that and I think that’s the reason I got the camper van – it’s a home from home and the dogs settle really well in it.”
Jack had a number of health issues when he was first adopted and found it difficult to find his balance and coordination. As well as canine physiotherapy, he’s also started to take part in UK Dog Sports classes in agility, obedience and scent work.
Julie added: “Because of his past experience, Jack was very withdrawn when I first took him in. He’d move away from people and was very grumpy initially. For some reason he was terrified of birds and used to have panic attacks if anything changed even slightly at home, for example, if a coat was hung somewhere different.”
“He’s a completely different dog now. Travelling and taking part in agility classes has really boosted his confidence. He adores cuddles and curling up on the sofa and of course he’s become somewhat of a globetrotter. He’s loved swimming in the rivers in Austria or just watching the world go by from a cafe in Germany.
“Both dogs are wonderful travelling companions and we’ve got Athens, via the Dolomites and Liechtenstein, as well as Pompei, to look forward to.”
The RSPCA is highlighting the rescue of Jack as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to investigate and save more puppies like him from cruelty and abuse
Neil Everall, from Woodside Animal Centre, said: “Everyone at Woodside is thrilled at how Jack’s life has been turned around so dramatically. We try so hard every day to make a difference and to make things right for animals that have had an appalling start in life.
“It’s a great example of how RSPCA inspectors and rehoming centres work together to provide a new start for abused and neglected dogs and Jack is a perfect example of how amazing this partnership can be. The adoption of a rescue animal can be so fulfilling and gives animals a second chance to find happiness. It sounds like Jack has the perfect life and probably has more stamps in his passport than all of us put together.”
Chief inspector Ian Briggs from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, which investigated the illegal selling at the address where Jack was found, said: “It’s fantastic to see Jack looking so well and enjoying life after the neglect he’d suffered at such an early age.
“We’d always encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy to adopt rather than buy, and to thoroughly do their research to ensure they source a dog responsibly and do not end up lining the pockets of irresponsible people who make money out of misery.”
Buying a puppy is a minefield but there are steps you can take to help protect yourself as well as dog welfare. The RSPCA encourages people to consider adopting instead of buying a puppy and has thousands of dogs available for rehoming every year including all different breeds, ages, shapes and sizes.
If you’re buying a puppy then be sensible and follow these steps:
- Use The Puppy Contract to help you find a breeder, ask the right questions, and find a happy and healthy dog
- Be cautious if you’re following online adverts and look out for bad breeders or dealers
- Visit the puppy at home and see them with their mum, visit more than once and ask lots of questions – remember your puppy cannot leave mum until he/she is at least eight weeks old
- Check the seller is licensed and ask for health checks and veterinary paperwork
- Never pay cash, be pressured into buying quickly or arrange to meet a seller anywhere outside of the place they bred the pup
- If anything seems dodgy then walk away and contact the relevant authorities
You can read more about how the RSPCA investigates illegal puppy farms at www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/investigatingcruelty/organised/puppyfarming
