THE LABRADOR RESCUE TRUST

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On one of our regular runs to collect a couple of dogs from the kennels we use in South Wales, I was asked to look at the latest 2 pound dogs to come in, to see whether we wanted them. The kennels were dark and one of the dogs I was shown looked to be a skinny, timid, working-type chocolate. They'd called him Chaz and aged him at the usual: "about 2 or 3". He looked a bit scruffy, but so appealing I said I'd take him on the next trip over, after he'd been quarantined for the usual kennel cough, prevalent in the Welsh pound dogs. "Oh, by the way, he clears 6ft fences". I'd taken a photo, of which examination back home nevertheless suggested he probably was a Lab.

So a couple of weeks later I'm over to collect him together with a little chocolate bitch, to bring him over to kennels this side of the Severn for assessment. Unfortunately, in daylight it was clear he was a cross of some sort, possibly, red setter, goldie, or even Vizsla, but as I'd earlier said I'd take him and just driven over 100 miles, I'd have to answer to the consequences when "She who must be obeyed" saw him for the first time. Meanwhile it turned out he was microchipped, but the old owners didn't want to pay the release fee, as he had a history of escaping (which the microchip records confirmed). The chip records also revealed that his real name was Chester.

Well, to cut a long story short, after the initial reprimand for taking a stray: "It's about time you learnt what a Labrador looks like" - lady luck soon came to my aid, with a phone call from a local couple who asked whether we had any crosses. Needless to say there was a very speedy home check and invitation to come and see Chester with whom they immediately fell in love, as did their elderly border collie bitch, Pixie. Co-incidentally, Chester had meanwhile cleared one of the 6ft run fences at kennels, to join a collie in the next paddock, so he'd already proved that he liked collies. It also transpired that Chester's prospective new Dad, Richard, had gone to my old school in Sandwich, Kent, during the last couple of years I was there; and also I recognised his wife Anne as someone with whom I used to commute by train to work in Bristol. Small world.

It turns out Chester is clearly only about a year old and has mostly Labrador characteristics, if not the looks, including webbed-feet, ball obsession, and a predilection for stealing the Sunday roast. Apart from the Sunday joint incident, he's not put a foot wrong so far, and Richard and Anne are delighted with him, as is he with them and Pixie. Here are some pictures, so you decide. Certainly an honorary Labrador and a lovely success story.

RWP