Too young to die – Stella’s story:
In Loving Memory:

Pictured here is ‘Stella’ a healthy young dog who sadly lost her life recently.

In May 2005 Stella was handed in to a national animal charity by her owner who was no longer able to keep her. Stella was vaccinated, chipped and spayed by the re-homing centre who then put her up for adoption, several months went past and Stella remained with the centre waiting for the right kind of owner to come along and offer her a loving home. During this time the staff and volunteer dog walkers all became very fond of Stella, she loved people and all the attention they were happy to give her.

Events took a turn for the worst when a dog handler with the police declared that in his opinion Stella was a ‘pit bull type’ and would have to be put down, the staff who actually cared for Stella on a day to day basis were devastated, they took up a collection to raise money to send her to another rescue overseas – anything to try and save her only to be told that even export was not an option as she was a ‘dangerous dog’ and must die.

The Charities committee decided that Stella, without any further assessment, would be put to sleep, they felt it was their only option and that even if they applied to register her they wouldn’t then be able to rehome her. The legislation does not allow ‘ownership’ to be changed but a dog can be rehomed when the ‘keepership’ is changed allowing a dog to legally live under the full control of someone else (this has been successful on many occasions with rescue dogs).

EDDR were contacted and with only a few days left for Stella to live we gave advice on the options available including an independent qualified breed identification expert who would at least properly identify the ‘condemned’ dog for the purpose of the legislation with a view to go from here depending on the findings. One member of Staff wrote to us: “We have become very attached to her and to see a young healthy dog like Stella die, would be heartbreaking.”

Mary, a staff member who used to care for Stella writes:

“Stella was a happy, very friendly, 3 year old brindle. She could be a little nervous at times, but loved a fuss and a cuddle and lying on your lap and having her tummy rubbed, and she liked playing ball.
She loved going for her walks, and was a great favourite with myself and with several of the staff, including two of our regular dog volunteer walkers.
We all shed a tear for her, and she is still in my thoughts.
It's so sad that she died through lack of ignorance by others, and unwillingness by certain people to save her.”

“I would like to thank you for all that you did to try and save Stella's life. It was done on Tuesday, I could not go to work that day knowing I would see her and what was going to happen.”

Stella was led from her kennel on Tuesday 13th December 2005 and her life abruptly ended – there was to be no sanctuary and no future for her

Unlike the other rescue dogs who had been handed in to the sanctuary, she had been labelled and would never find that special home of her own.

Run free at the bridge Stella