AN eight-year-old Lurcher on the brink of death has transformed the life of one Leicestershire owner who has credited him with rediscovering her confidence.

Tracey Ison, of Morland Drive, Hinckley, has had her life turned upside-down thanks to beloved pet Scout, bringing about changes that she never thought possible in a short space of time.

Scout, who is also visually impaired, has enabled Tracey to put the traumatic experience of having her Whippet, Ruby, die in her arms after a horrendous attack by another dog some years earlier.

That’s seen Scout nominated for The Kennel Club Friends for Life award at this year’s Crufts as an entry into the man’s best friend category – celebrating a pet who has seen its owner through the hardest times as well as the happiest.

For Tracey, that moment came through the helplessness she felt after Ruby’s death, believing Scout’s impact has helped her to rebuild her life and regain a sense of purpose.

“My husband and I, since we were married, had a whippet and she sadly died. She was killed on a walk. It was horrendous,” she explained.

“I had lost a lot of confidence in walking out. Even with my two dogs I felt a little bit concerned. I had to lose that walking Scout.

“He didn’t need me to be worried. He needed to be watched and it gives me focus because I’m always looking out for him to make sure he doesn’t bump into anything.

“He’s given me that confidence back again. I couldn’t afford to be wimpy anymore. Almost from day one he sorted that side of me out and made me more confident to do it.

“It’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

Remarkably, the opportunity to change her life for the better may never have been afforded as Scout, a stray found on the streets of County Durham, was perilously close to being euthanised.
Suffering from mange and kennel cough, East Midlands Dog Rescue had to make the unthinkable decision as to whether to let Scout live or die.
Thankfully for Tracey, he came through when it mattered most.

“He was isolated and they decided to send someone into the kennel and tap on the floor,” she said.

“If he responded to the tap he lived. If he didn’t he was gone. He responded and that saved his life.

“Scout was just let out of his pen with his litter mate and he literally ran and crashed into us and from that minute we were sold. He was going to be ours.

“Our dogs changed our lives. He’s amazed us with everything. Every challenge, there’s nothing this dog won’t go and enjoy. It’s wonderful to watch him experience things that other dogs do and our friends dogs do. There’s no magic to it, we learn from him as much as he’s learnt from us.”

The Kennel Club wants to celebrate and share the amazing stories of how dogs give back to us every day of our lives.
There will be one winner per category, decided through a public vote, and the overall winner will be announced in the NEC arena at Crufts 2019.
The winner will also be awarded £5,000 and the runners up will each receive – for their nominated canine charity – £1,000 from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust – helping to make a difference for dogs.
It's criteria which, in Tracey’s eyes at least, Scout fits perfectly.
“He’s a really good example of how dogs can come from nothing to everything,” she added.
“That’s the effect he will have on people. People will warm to him. And I guess our journey is one of giving back.
“We’re always looking for that reason for what we can do to help other people.
“Someone saw something in him as a puppy and the day we took him out of rescue the lady at the rescue said he’s here for a reason.”