Abandoned staffie melts Paul O'Grady's heart (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting CFGNEWS to 80360 or email us »
Abandoned staffie melts Paul O'Grady's heart
11:32am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News
A COUPLE who rescued an abandoned and emaciated dog have starred on a new television programme.
Paula and Mark Oliver, of Porter Way, Clacton, were featured on ITV’s Paul O’Grady - For the Love of Dogs, which was screened last night.
The programme told the heart-wrenching story of how the couple gave a new lease of life to Amy, a year-old Staffordshire bull terrier who they rescued from Battersea Dog and Cats Home in April.
Staff said Amy, who was previously called Sparkle, was one of the worst cases of neglect they had seen in 20 years when she was found abandoned and cowering in a suitcase.
O'Grady was visibly shaken by the staffie's suffering.
Paula, 45, said it was love at first sight when they spotted Amy at the home.
“She just sat at the bars with her big beautiful eyes," she said. "We just wanted to take her home and give her some love.”
