A STRAY collie-cross dog which trod death row only three months ago has won happiness and the chance of fame on the canine calendar.

When Judi and Roger Brown from the West Midlands favoured a home in the country and built a house in Knowbury, little did they realise that they would soon be on the road to Crufts, the world famous dog show, writes Jen Green.

The story started two years ago when they took in Kim, a bitch, from the RSPCA in Birmingham, and she was sent to Stuart Brace from West Mercia Dog Training in Leominster, for training.

Talent-spotted for the Paws for Thought canine display team, the Browns and their hound were seen in displays of agility and obedience held in the area last summer.

Kim's high standards of behaviour so impressed pupils when she accompanied Judi, a teacher at Lacon Childe School, Cleobury Mortimer, on the Blue Cross 'take your dog to work day' last September that they decided one dog was not enough.

Buddy was first picked up by the dog warden in Antrim, Northern Ireland, last autumn, but after six days in the pound, no-one had claimed him and the dog was ordered to be destroyed.

He was rescued at the eleventh hour by staff at Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary just at the right time.

The National Canine Defence League had offered to take 32 dogs from Antrim for re-homing and Buddy's long journey to Ludlow began.

Painfully thin and very scared, he arrived in Evesham and was quickly shipped off to the NCDL centre at Roden, near Shrewsbury, to be assessed by a behaviourist.

Despite being untrained, Buddy was friendly and eager to please and returned to Roden for homing.

Found on a chance visit to the centre looking pitiful and nervous, he captured the attention of the Browns and arrangements were made for a trial visit to Knowbury to see how he got on with Kim and the two family cats.

Judi explained: "He was very nervous when we got him home, so we took him into the garden with Kim. They began playing together and we knew it would be alright. He was terrified of the cats though and would yelp and scream if they came near him. However, NCDL behaviourists sorted him out in a couple of weeks."

Training two nights a week with Paws for Thought in Leominster, Buddy came on in leaps and bounds. Having a natural agility he easily clears all the jumps and has even attempted the dark scary tunnels after only a few tries.

In just three weeks he learned to sit, lie down, stand, stay, walk to heel and come when called.

"He really is eager to please even though he gets a little over excited at times and loves all the attention," Judi added.

Research via the internet helped trace Buddy's background and Judi and Roger were moved by his story.

Roger said: "When we were told how close his brush with death had been, it brought tears to our eyes and we can't thank staff at MAAS enough for rescuing him. He has been with us for only a short time but we couldn't bear to be without him."

Now Buddy will be showing off his talents in the Paws for Thought display at Crufts this week.

Roger said: "It goes to show that you don't need a pedigree for a big occasion and it's a real achievement for a dog to have journeyed from death row to the world's greatest dog show in just three months.

"Buddy has finally realised that his home at Knowbury really is for life and if you see him at Crufts at the NEC in March, give him a cheer, he deserves it," he added.