TWO IRISH DOGS which were just days away from being put to sleep before being rescued by a charity group have completed a major ‘wags to riches’ turnaround – by taking major prizes at the Crufts dog show.

‘Hairy Havoc’ (everyday name Winnie, a grey-haired lurcher) and ‘Lust for Life’ (Collie cross Gertie) both took awards at the prestigious dog show in Birmingham over the weekend.

Winnie took second prize in the ABC Dog Agility competition, one of the competition’s toughest categories, while Gertie took four prize in the Young Kennel Club Agility competition.

Both dogs were rescued from the pound in Dunboyne, operated by South Dublin County Council, by the volunteer charity A Dog’s Life, which then found rescue space for Winnie at PuppyRescue in Kilkenny.

From there, Winnie was adopted by the Rumsey family in York, England, who then later adopted Gertie directly from the Dunboyne Pound where she had been born.

Watch Winnie, as Hairy Havoc, in her Crufts time trial (starting 4m40):

A Dog’s Life chairperson Anne Rogers said the success of the two dogs highlighted how dogs could be saved from almost certain deaths if they were rescued from pounds.

“All dogs deserve a second chance just as Winnie and Gertie did. Every day abandoned and unwanted dogs are brought to pounds, where they face certain death unless they are adopted or taken in by a rescue organisation which deals with the pound,” she said.

“If you’re ready to give a home to a dog, please help save a dog’s life by adopting from your local pound.”

More details about A Dog’s Life can be found on the charity’s Facebook page.

Watch Gertie, as Lust for Life, in her Crufts time trial (starting 9m45):