MOST projects begin at Pen Y Bryn Animal Sanctury with a catalyst and the impetus for creating a haven for animals was Dotty, a small black dog of Pomeranian breed.

The sanctuary is run by Peter Gill and Kelly Hennessey-Ford from their Ross-on-Wye home and feel that Dotty packed full of character despite being abandoned when she came into their lives as a short-term foster.

Peter describes her as being was meek, nervous and rather under-nourished on her arrival, but her vulnerability instantly won their hearts over, consequently when the foster period was over they had no option but to adopt her.

Dotty wasn’t the first of the animals that the couple had taken in, but she was the game changer as she was the one that made the pair realise that they could make a difference to more lives and actually had a moral responsibility to do so.

Soon after Peter and Kelly had signed the papers transferring ownership to them, this dear, timid, quiet little dog began to show her true princess self.

Her little tail which had previously drooped sadly behind her suddenly raised itself in a proud and haughty manner illustrating to the family’s dog and cat that she felt that she was now number one.

Peter said: “She began to bark at her water bowl if it was only half full as a command to us to fill it to its proper level and she would insist that her dog biscuits were placed in front of her food bowl, not within it.

“For all her postering Dotty failed to convince anyone else of her hierarchical place, but to this very day she has persisted to believe that there is no one above her and that we are all her subjects to do as she commands.

“When the centre of anyone’s attentions, be it Kelly or I or a visitor to the house or sanctuary, Dotty is the most delightful, cute, cuddly dog imaginable that everyone falls in love with.

“When however, there are others around who might garner attention like one of our other dogs, cats or rabbits in particular, then she throws herself into a jealous rage, bouncing and barking around, demanding that attention is made of her, and her alone.

“Dotty has clearly never appreciated the fact that she unwittingly encouraged us to open up our home to other waifs and strays, and as our resident family expands, she doubtlessly curses every new addition.”

When an animal arrives at Pen Y Bryn, it is for the rest of their journey, whatever stresses they have gone through before in their earlier life.

Unfortunately, Pen Y Bryn is not open to the public but the owners do offer the occasional supervised visit.

If you want to read more about the animal sanctury’s other residents or how you can help them then please visit the website penybrynanimals.co.uk and read the blog ‘Tales From Pen Y Bryn’.