Portsmouth rescue dog adorns front cover of 2021 canine calendar

Six-year-old Storm, who was adopted by Neil Hood in 2017, proved a natural in front of the camera.

Owner Neil was surprised to see the Norwegian Buhund wow the judging panel in her modelling debut.

Neil, 41, said: ‘I saw a Facebook link for competition entries and thought nothing of it at the time, let alone that we would make the front cover!’

Storm is one of seven pups featured in the calendar, each telling a dog’s story of how they have been helped to find their new home by The Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations.

For the first three years of her life, Storm was looked after by a lady who fell on hard times and could no longer take care of her.

Neil, who runs barber shop Edwards For Men in Southsea, said: ‘Rather than give Storm to a complete stranger, the owner asked the Norwegian Buhund Breed Rescue team if they could find a suitable home for her.’

Norwegian Buhund Breed Rescue, the organisation which rescued Storm, pair rescue dogs with experienced owners so they don’t have to spend too long in kennels.

Neil, from North End, explained how the team at the rescue approached him to ask whether he could look after Storm for a few weeks while they find a long-term owner.

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‘As I already have two boys of the same breed, I agreed to take care of her’, he said.

‘A few weeks turned into three years so far and now Storm really has found her forever home here, as they say.’

The money raised through the sale of the calendars will enable The Kennel Club Charitable Trust to continue to make a difference for dogs in 2021, by funding a wide variety of work ranging from research into canine diseases, supporting rescue centres and dog welfare organisations and training support dogs.

Each breed rescue organisation featured in the calendar receives extra funding from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust to support their work.

The Kennel Club Breed Rescue is available to purchase at The Kennel Club online shop at thekennelclub.org.uk for £5.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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