Dechra’s Rhian takes the plunge for poorly pets

21 September 2016

A rescue dog took part in a major operation to save a woman in the water at London’s Canary Wharf - but it was all in the name of charity.

Rhian Westcott, the Diets Business Manager for Dechra Veterinary Products, took the plunge and found herself hauled to safety by a trained 13-stone Newfoundland as part of the PDSA Big Doggy Paddle fundraiser on September 5.

Dechra has donated £1,000 towards Rhian’s fundraising efforts.

The event was organised by NewFound Friends in partnership with the PDSA in memory of Whizz, a Newfoundland rescue dog that received the charity’s Order of Merit for his life saving work.

Participants had to jump into the water at the Docklands Scout Project London where one of five trained rescue dogs would demonstrate their life saving abilities.

PDSA, which provides free vet services for sick and injured animals belonging to people in need, was hoping to raise around £50,000 from the challenge to support its work. The charity has to raise £60 million a year to run its services that help more than 470,000 pets in need every year.

Rhian said it had been an amazing and worthwhile experience. “It was quite a scary thing to do as it goes completely against your instincts but I had to trust the dog and it was quite incredible to see them in operation,” she explained.

“The PDSA does fantastic work to help pets and their owners and I was glad to be able to take part in the challenge and raise funds for such a worthy cause.”