From Rescued Dog To Rescue Dog - Charlie’s Story - By Sophie Stanley, Gundog Rescue & Rehoming

Charlie’s journey started with us much like many other of our rescues. He was an unwanted pet springer, with bundles of energy (just how we like them)!

During the first lockdown (March 2020) the mother of the Corbett twins, Christopher and Mackenzie, approached Gundog Rescue & Rehoming to ask if we had something suitable for the boys to train during lockdown.

The Corbett twins had shot to fame when with their Dad they won the GR&RH Estate Challenge at the Irish Game Fair in 2019 after both competing with credit against adults in the spaniel and retriever tests at the Fair.

They were the perfect trainers and Charlie was the perfect project! He was given to them with the remit to train as a search dog, not a gun dog. The twins spent their entire lockdown devoted to Charlie’s training. After the boy’s hard work Charlie was sent for a trial with An Garda in Dublin, but was found a little too immature for the work he was needed to do. But the twins were not afraid of a challenge and took Charlie back and worked on the guidelines given by the Garda dog team. But unfortunately, Charlie had missed his chance of an intake with the Garda, so came back to us at GDR&R just after Christmas.

After Charlie’s return, we saw a massive change in him, he showed us huge energy and enthusiasm and we thought this would suit a more active working search role and that he would be wasted as a pet. We then decided to contact the K9 Search and Rescue Team of Northern Ireland, to explain the training he had undergone and that he had trialled for the Garda.

It wasn’t long before the the NI Rescue Team called with us at GDR&R for a chat and an initial assessment of

The NI Rescue Team meeting Charlie at Gundog Rescue & Rehoming Headquarters

Charlie getting his sea legs on the Rescue RIB. Some great work sees Charlie home in on the missing item.

Charlie. Seeing his ability straight away and his potential, they agreed to give him a more in-depth trial. That was it Charlie was off for his trial as a search dog!

The first photo we received of Charlie in his new adventure was dry land training! Charlie wasn’t fazed! A few days later and like a duck to water, Charlie had taken his first try on the Rescue rib out on Lough Neagh. The Pictures were astounding and shows Charlie’s braveness and willingness to learn!

Next, our great sponsors Feedwell Dogfood and The Great Game Fairs of Ireland contacted us and asked if there was anything they could do to help with this union of dog and Rescue team. Albert Titterington of The Great Game Fairs of Ireland offered to cover part of Charlie’s adoption donation to our vet account. We also had another great supporter of Gundog Rescue come forward and offer to donate an equal amount to our vets! Jamie Clegg of Feedwell Dogfood offered to sponsor Charlie’s food during his placement as a team member of K9 Search and Rescue. Amazing!!

Everyone at Gundog Rescue are so proud to be involved in rescuing dogs like Charlie and being able to offer them a new life! We are even prouder to be able to work in conjunction with the K9 Search and Rescue team and hope our future working together is a long one!

Charlies journey is still ongoing, but it is clear from the pictures he’s taking it all in his stride. The Gundog Rescue and Rehoming team would like to thank everyone concerned in Charlie’s story and our other followers and for your support in making new futures like this happen for dogs like Charlie.