Moray businesses step in to save boxer Rocky
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TWO local businesses have played a role in a cross-border dog rescue in answer to an appeal from Moray's own "Mama Doolittle".
Meg Grant, from New Elgin, has earned the moniker through her two decades of fundraising work and co-ordination efforts to help rehome dogs, primarily boxers, locally and from abroad.
Meg is now awaiting the arrival of Rocky – a 14-month-old boxer heading to Elgin from Spain – after the Moray public and local businesses Calum's Kitchen and Indulge Cakes got behind her Facebook plea to rescue him.
With their help, Meg has amassed nearly £1000 within a fortnight to sponsor Rocky and get him to safety.
Rocky has spent his life so far chained up in a sandy field with no shelter, his ears infected after being burned to a crisp by the baking sun, and thrown occasional scraps but barely enough to stay alive.
Meg said: "The burns and infection were horrific. He was skin and bone. I couldn't get him out of my head.
"I contacted the woman who posted the picture and asked if I could sponsor him. That secured him. Rescuers in Spain took him into boarding. And it all took off from there."
After extensive vet treatment, Rocky is due to arrive in the UK on August 8.
The cash raised has paid for all Rocky's vet bills, microchipping, a month's boarding and travel. He will travel to trace kennels at the end of July where a vet will check him over thoroughly before he gets the final go-ahead for travel on August 6.
Calum Main, of Alves-based Calum's Kitchen, helped raise £225 through an appeal on his business page. And Michelle McEwan, of Indulge Cakes, raised £168 for Meg's appeal by raffling off a cheesecake.
Donations also flooded in from Meg's Doolittle followers on Facebook. She ran a "pick a dog name" competition, at £5 a go, with £100 for the winner and the remainder going to help Rocky. The competition winner, Linda Wilson, also donated her £100 to help the dog.
Meg said: "It was fantastic of Calum and Michelle to step in when things have been hard for their businesses with the pandemic. They, and their customers, helped save Rocky.
"I’m sure Rocky the Rockstar is going to be very popular in Moray. He's a happy boy now."
The dog will stay with Meg and her two rescued boxers, Charlie and Freeda, while a permanent home is carefully arranged.
People have been able to follow Rocky's return to health and steps towards a new life through a Facebook page, Rocky's Journey to Freedom.
Calum's Kitchen has promised that a slap-up sausage feast awaits Rocky after he settles in Elgin.
