Girl, 11, will compete at Crufts with her grandmother’s dog who was rescued from travellers in Spain

An 11-year-old girl will compete at Crufts with her grandmother’s eight-year-old dog who was rescued from travellers in Spain that could not afford to pay for its vet bills.

Catalan cross terrier Timmi soon became ill when he was just a puppy and was subsequently taken to the vets where the travellers suggested that the dog should be put down because they were unable to pay the medical bill.

However Louise Carter, a nurse at the hospital, decided to foster Timmi and get him back to full health until SOS Dog Rescue could find him a new home. 

And in swooped grandmother-of-two Jackie Bain, 72, who rescued Timmi at just five-months-old and took him into her home in Pebbles, Borders, in Scotland.

The cross terrier will be competing with Ms Bain’s granddaughter Brooke Bain in the under 12 agility event at Crufts.

Brooke Bain, 11, will be competing at Crufts with her grandmother’s rescue dog, Timmi (pictured together)

Brooke will be competing in the under 12 agility event with the eight-year-old Catalan cross terrier

Brooke will be competing in the under 12 agility event with the eight-year-old Catalan cross terrier

Brooke has been doing training once a week, having to find the time to do it outside of school

Brooke has been doing training once a week, having to find the time to do it outside of school

Grandmother Jackie Bain said that Brooke, who turns 12 in April, will be one of the younger competitors at the NEC in Birmingham on March 9

Grandmother Jackie Bain said that Brooke, who turns 12 in April, will be one of the younger competitors at the NEC in Birmingham on March 9

Ms Bain said her granddaughter is very into horse-riding and animal training. ‘It’s so important to try to rescue dogs,’ she said.

‘There’s so many out there looking for a home. Brooke started agility training in May this year. She just took to it. She gets on really well with Timmi.

Brooke has been doing training once a week, having to find the time to do it outside of school. 

Ms Bain said that Brooke, who turns 12 in April, will be one of the younger competitors at the NEC in Birmingham on March 9.

The grandmother, who works part time as a chef, and has three dogs in all added: ‘We already had Molly, a Catalan Sheepdog, and we were looking for a companion for her so we contacted SOS and were offered Timmi.

‘After his basic training I introduced him to dog agility and was surprised to see how he quickly learned the skills and in 2017 he won Rescue Agility Scotland title.

It was Louise Carter, a nurse at the hospital, who decided to foster Timmi and get him back to full health until SOS Dog Rescue could find him a new home. Pictured: Timmi before and after being rescued by Ms Bain

Brooke said although she is slightly nervous, she 'can't express how proud' she is about taking Timmi to Crufts

Brooke said although she is slightly nervous, she ‘can’t express how proud’ she is about taking Timmi to Crufts

‘Over the next few years he became a grade 7 agility dog.

‘I took Brooke to agility training with our coach Donna Jarvie she said that she was a natural.

‘Brooke won her first show at Bowhill House in Selkirk earlier this year it was followed up with a victory at Kelso which insured a qualifier to Crufts.

‘We are all very proud in all that she has achieved.’

Meanwhile granddaughter Brooke said herself: ‘Crufts is a big competition and I am so excited although slightly nervous. There is much ahead for Timmi and I.

‘I just cant express how proud I am.

Last year Ms Bain rescued another dog Monty, a Kokoni from Romania, who has settled well with Molly and Timmi in his new home. Pictured: Timmi when he was a puppy in Spain

Last year Ms Bain rescued another dog Monty, a Kokoni from Romania, who has settled well with Molly and Timmi in his new home. Pictured: Timmi when he was a puppy in Spain

‘When we go to Crufts we are just going to enjoy ourselves and the experience.

‘In the end no matter what happens I am so proud of how far we have come big thanks to my gran and granddad and coach Donna.

She also gave her thanks to her sponsors the Winyard family who run Stobo Castle, a luxury spa in Scotland.

Last year Ms Bain rescued another dog Monty, a Kokoni from Romania, who has settled well with Molly and Timmi in his new home.

Ms Bain added: ‘There are so many dogs needing homes they make wonderful companions so if you are looking to buy a puppy or adult dog please consider a rescue.

‘You won’t regret it.’

A brief history of Crufts: ‘The World’s Greatest Dog Show’

1876: Charles Cruft left college to work for an American entrepreneur named James Spratt, who invented dog biscuits and worked as a travelling salesman where he met different dog breeders.

1886: Charles took up the management of the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster.

1891: The first Cruft’s show was booked into the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington

1900: By the turn of the century, entries had risen to 3,000

1938: Charles passed away and his widow Emma continued to run the event for four years until she sold it to the Kennel Club

1948: The Kennel Club held their first Crufts show at the Olympia in London

1955: The first Obedience Championships were held

1959: The show set a new world record with 13,211 entrants

1979: The show became to big for the Olympia and moved to Earls Court

1991: The show moved to the NEC in Birmingham, the same year it was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest dog show with 22,973 dogs competing

2000: Rescue dog agility is introduced to Crufts, allowing rescue dogs to shine

2009: Crufts is streamed online for the first time to allow those without a ticket to join in

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