Jessie the lurcher has been a total joy, says new owner as welfare charity launches 'don’t let animals suffer' campaign
An animal-loving Caithness resident has given his backing to a Scottish SPCA campaign after revealing how a rescue dog has been "a total joy" since coming into his life.
Stefan Teufl says he now can't imagine being without Jessie the lurcher, having taken her home from the Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Balmore, near Dounreay.
He spoke about his positive experience to promote the Scottish SPCA's new campaign which has the message "don’t let animals suffer". It is a result of welfare issues that have arisen during the pandemic.
The charity says its centres have hit capacity and support from the public is needed desperately.
Nationally, a rise in demand for puppies has led to an increase in the number of raids and seizures of pups from low-welfare puppy farms and dealers. This has resulted in a surge in the number of animals in rescue and rehoming centres and increased pressure on vital services.

Jessie arrived in the care of the Caithness and Sutherland centre with nine other dogs.
There had been an accident at the property of Jessie’s previous owners and they became overwhelmed by the number of animals they were caring for. They made the decision to sign the dogs over to the Scottish SPCA for rehoming.
Jessie was nervous and lacked confidence when she arrived, and the team at Balmore worked hard to bring her out of her shell. Staff were delighted when Jessie found a home but she was returned as she wasn’t getting on with the men in the house.
Jessie soon got another chance for a happy ending, though, when Stefan and his partner walked through the doors.
“It has only been two months but we can’t imagine life without her," Stefan said. "We were actually there visiting another dog at the centre the day Jessie was brought back.
“We agreed to meet her and we fell in love immediately. Jessie came over to us straight away and we took turns walking her up and down the enclosure. Apparently she took to us really quickly, which the staff were surprised with as she had trouble bonding with people, especially males – but she seemed really happy with me.
“She came home with us that day due to the bond the team recognised. It was a bit of a baptism of fire as Jessie was our first dog – we had previously been cat people.
“Jessie was quite nervous for the first wee while. We think she thought we would take her back to the rehoming centre, but now she has no issues going out in the car or leaving the house. She now knows those things end in fun for her!
“We made a point of spending a lot of time with her at the beginning and having that bonding time with her. She has genuinely been an incredibly easy dog from the outset. There have been no behavioural issues – she’s been amazing being house-trained and is a total joy.
“She really has changed our lives. Her personality is so gentle. She is happy to go on walks but loves to lounge on the couch being cuddled. When I’m working on my laptop, she will climb up and sit on my lap. It’s just limbs everywhere!
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“Her favourite toy is a squeaky banana and she’ll zoomie round the garden if she’s got the energy. She has also learned so much in such a short time. She is currently learning how to push the treat leaver, give a paw, heel and lie down. Jessie is very clever and has picked up everything really floast.
“We are completely in love with her and we thank our lucky stars we visited the centre that day.”
Animals continue to suffer due to deliberate or misguided neglect, the Scottish SPCA says.
In 2020, the charity continued to operate despite the difficulties of the pandemic. More than 136,000 calls were made to its animal helpline and the frontline team attended an average of 214 incidents each day, totalling almost 78,000 over the year.
A total of 3369 animals were rehomed and more than 7000 wild animals were admitted to the society's National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
The charity cared for more than 1300 animals seeking temporary refuge, including those involved in legal proceedings. A total of 317 animals caught up in court cases were cared for over the pandemic.
Chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “In many cases, neglect is not deliberate. Even people who love their animals can find themselves in a position where they are unable to continue to provide them with the care they need.
“This could be a change in personal circumstance or an accident. The decision can be heartbreaking but ultimately it is the right one for the welfare of that animal. It is admirable to put an animal’s needs first.
“Our centres have hit capacity and we desperately need the support of the animal-loving Scottish public so that they don’t let animals suffer.
“We will continue to be here for every person and animal, like Jessie, that needs us in all communities across Scotland. Every single person who signs up to support us with a monthly donation will be making an impact and will allow us to rescue animals like Jessie.”
The Scottish SPCA receives no government funding and is entirely reliant on donations from the public.
To find out more about the #DontLetAnimalsSuffer campaign and becoming a member of the Scottish SPCA, visit www.scottishspca.org/puppy