16th July 2010

Life is certainly on the up for Aloe, a rescue dog from South Africa. After surviving eight years of serious neglect, a long journey from the southern hemisphere and four months in quarantine, she has just won herself 6 months supply of Oscar pet food, courtesy of John Allen who is the local Oscar pet Nutritional Advisor for the Peak District.

 

Aloe’s heart rendering story was unbeknown to John when he pulled her winning competition entry out of the hat. Knowing her story makes her all the more a worthwhile winner.

In 2008 Aloe was taken from the township near Durban where she lived and was placed into care by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). She was living in appalling conditions, she was extremely thin, infested with mites and ticks, had raw scars on her neck and legs from the chains that were attached to her and she had lost all her fur.

Indeed Hope (as Aloe was then named) was in such a state that the SPCA doubted they could rehome her. That was until Sheila Knight and her partner Chris Martin visited the centre. Sadly Sheila and Chris had recently lost their beloved dog, Ben, who had lived to the grand age of 17. They had no intentions of adopting another dog as they had already decided to return to Buxton to set up home. However such was the plight of Hope, they were determined to give her a second chance. No one was more shocked than the warden who exclaimed, “You want her, she is just about to be put down”.

Nevertheless Sheila and Chris did want her despite her mental and physical damage, the vet bills that were likely to follow and indeed their imminent emigration.

Sheila and Chris took her home and renamed her Aloe, short for Aloepecia, due to her baldness. However whereas her name will remain her fur will gradually grow back. Aloe was frightened of everything and did indeed require lots of veterinary care, even more after trying to escape over fences and finally falling through the decking – Sheila thought it was the end.

Aloe began her 6,000 mile journey to the UK in March, with Chris and Sheila following her a few weeks later. They are now settled in their new home in Buxton however Aloe is still in quarantine at Calagran Kennels, Chesterfield, where she will remain until September.

Aloe has had some adjusting to do. She was totally unaccustomed to the love and attention she was getting and also completely unfamiliar with the weather, leaving a humid and sunny South African climate for a cold and chilly UK spring proved to be a bit of shock! Needless to say Aloe needed a little assistance from an ultra infrared lamp to help keep her warm. Lots of patience and loving care has settled Aloe to her new life and better health.

John, from OSCAR, is extremely happy that Aloe, Sheila and Chris won the prize. “I couldn’t think of any more worthy winners and am delighted that Aloe will get the opportunity to reap the rewards”. But anyone who knows about Oscar will appreciate that once Aloe has been introduced to her prize winning food she will feel like a million dollars and just watch how her coat will gleam.

To contact John for a free consultation and sample please call him on 0161 4199541 – email john.allen@oscars.co.uk or visit www.oscars.co.uk

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