Sunderland woman's £2,000 bid to rehome stray dog from Qatar

A Sunderland woman is hoping to raise £2,000 to bring a stray dog from Qatar to live with her in the city.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jun 2017, 06:00 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 19:51 BST
Fundraising is underway to bring Arthur to the UK.Fundraising is underway to bring Arthur to the UK.
Fundraising is underway to bring Arthur to the UK.

Bek Brown has decided to offer stray dog Arthur a home - but the cash needs to be raised to pay for all the bills involved in bringing him to the UK.

Mum-of-one, Bek, already has three dogs and nine cats, but after seeing Arthur’s plight on an old school friend’s Facebook page, she knew she had to give him a loving home.

Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with dog Kitty, who was also rescued.Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with dog Kitty, who was also rescued.
Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with dog Kitty, who was also rescued.
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A former Grindon Hall Christian School friend of Bek’s, Brittany Hall, moved to Doha in Qatar last year and started doing some volunteering at a rescue centre.

Unfortunately, a huge flood devastated the centre and all the animals ended up being locked in small cages.

Brittany said: “People swarmed to the shelter through floods themselves, myself and my friends included, dumping their cars along the way, in hope to save as many of the animals as possible. Sadly some animals from the shelter lost their lives as we simply could not get them out quick enough.”

Brittany took Arthur in on a temporary basis, but knew she wan’t in a position to keep him, so he returned to the shelter to await a forever family.

Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue dog Arthur from Quatar.Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue dog Arthur from Quatar.
Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue dog Arthur from Quatar.
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However, when Brittany revisited the shelter some months later poor Arthur was still in a cage at the shelter and a broken-hearted Brittany once again fosteredhim.

But, she will be leaving Qatar shortly and cannot give Arthur a full-time home, so launched the appeal to raise funds to find him a home in the UK.

Bek, 27, her partner, Chris Sussex, 32, and daughter Heidi, nine, are all huge animal lovers and want to give Arthur a place at their Pennywell home.

Bek, a masters degree student, said: “I saw Arthur’s story and it broke my heart.

Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with daughter Heidi Norma, 9 and dogs from left Vinnie, Betty and KittyBek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with daughter Heidi Norma, 9 and dogs from left Vinnie, Betty and Kitty
Bek Brown is hoping to raise funds to rescue a dog from Quatar. Pictured with daughter Heidi Norma, 9 and dogs from left Vinnie, Betty and Kitty
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“I have a big house full of animals, they are my life and part of my family. I just couldn’t turn Arthur away.”

In recent years Bek has lost a lot of close relations, including her mum, and said: “My animals saved my life, they have nurtured me back to life through depression and anxiety, PTSD and I also have a chronic illness caused by Guillain Barre syndrome.”

Arthur, who is believed to be around 18-months-old, has no problem with other cats and dogs, so Bek said he should be fine with her nine felines, two border collies, Vinnie and Kitty, and springer spaniel, Betty.

Anyone who would like to support the appeal can made a donation at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Get-Arthur-Home.

Related topics:QatarSunderlandPeople