“Wandering” Walter.

Walter was found abandoned on moorland one Summer evening at about 9.00 by a van driver who was ready for another “service”. He got out of his van, heard a whimpering sound and went to investigate, when he found a Basset Hound of about twelve months down a hole from which he had no chance of escaping. The driver had a Border Collie of his own who he knew would not accept another dog in the house, so he drove the Basset over to his sister who cared for him overnight.

The following morning they took him to the police station and he then served his regulation seven days in the kennels. At the end of this the kennels contacted Basset Hound Welfare and he was collected.

Other Rescue organisations in the area were contacted to see if anyone had been looking for a Basset Hound. No-one had! He was wearing a quite expensive collar, but no tag and he wasn’t chipped. We’ve broken enough finger nails to know that tags don’t drop off.

A name had to given to him, and Walter was chosen.

There was at that time a local dialect comedian who worked the clubs under the stage name of “Wandering Walter”, which made the name very appropriate for a dog picked up as a stray in his circumstances.

Walter lived to be nearly twelve, but if he hadn’t been found when he was he would certainly have starved to death at an early age.

Many creatures owe their lives to some strange twists of fate, but a van driver needing a pee ? ; — that has to be a first. However it’s nice to know there are still some good Samaritans out there.