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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Jilly Beattie

Happy ending for stray dog Sid who was found with rope around his neck

He was on the verge of death when he was found in Co Fermanagh, starving and alone with rope around his neck.

But after months of rehabilitation and love, after endless appeals for help and a home, Sid the Saluki cross has finally found his forever spot along with a perfect pack of long-legged lovelies.

Diane McGovern of Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary outside Enniskillen, feared he would never find a home, but today she says he has secured the very best.

Read more: Tests provide no answers for family whose pup died after Belfast river swim

Diane explained: "When Sid came to us he was skin and bones, afraid and very closed down. We knew nothing about his past except that he appeared to have been dumped and was wandering about with a rope around his neck. We do not believe he'd had much, if any, positive human contact.

That feeling when the pack leader says you can stay (Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary)

"He wouldn't have lasted another week in that state, so of course we took him in and started to teach him what love felt like. He latched onto us with a desperation we often see in abandoned dogs and in doing so he developed a terrible fear of being alone.

"So we needed to find him a home with experience of sight hounds who could also handle intense separation anxiety. Sid's fears pushed him to learn to climb, to escape in a bid to find company and he just couldn't be left on his own.

"We searched for the right home for him for a long time but despite our appeals there was little interest. We even had a video appeal by Fermanagh actor Ciarán McMenamin, but still nothing. DogsLive continued with huge support and the USPCA joined the call for help too.

Not even Sid can scale that fence (Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary)

"Everyone loved Sid and his story, but no one wanted him, no one had room for him or the right experience, or a combination of all of that.

"After months of no suitable interest, we eventually had a phone call from a lady called Trish who'd seen a post about Sid. She knew all about sight hounds, had rescues of her own and a fabulous country home with the best fencing we've ever seen.

"She had the right attitude and wanted to ensure her pack were happy and that Sid fitted in. But there's a knack to that and only time would tell. Our nerves were in tatters hoping this would work because at this stage Trish was his only chance.

"She came to see Sid and then we travelled with him to see her and her pack and over a series of weeks they were introduced one by one. After getting acceptance from her dog pack, Sid then was on a mission to have a successful trial stay with them all - and he has never looked back.

Sid in the middle of some of his new siblings in a pack that welcomed him and made him feel safe (Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary)

"He is settled and happy, safe and content and his anxiety levels dropped considerably and are still reducing.

"This beautiful boy almost broke us. He needed so much care and attention and we lavished it on him and grew to know what he really needed but there didn't seem to be anyone out there who could match his needs. Then his guardian angel Trish came along just as all hope was fading.

Sid with his new big brother (Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary)

"We need to thank her for taking him in and for the fantastic home she has given him. We also want to thank everyone who shared Sid's story and helped us reach this wonderful lady. She saw his post on Facebook and contacted us right away. That's all it took. One more share, one more person to join the dots and solve the puzzle.

"Sid will never know another day of neglect again. He is home right where he deserves to be."

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