A ROMANIAN dog has been renamed 'Lucky', after he was rescued by a Grimsby animal lover from almost certain death.
Kathleen Reece-Brockett has paid almost £300 to have Lucky, a 16-week-old German shepherd cross border collie, transported nearly 1,800 miles to North East Lincolnshire.
The rescue is part of a huge move to save stray dogs like Lucky from Bucharest after the country's president brought in emergency legislation to allow the cull of the city's estimated 64,000 stray dogs.
Lucky had been found desperately crying next to his dead brother's body, after his mum and other siblings had all been killed.
Under the new law, stray dogs can now be put down if they are not adopted within two weeks of being captured in Bucharest.
But Kathleen found out about the situation through Facebook, and was desperate to help.
She said: "I didn't realise their plight before, but as soon as I did I wanted to do something to help prevent a terrible tragedy.
"The dog had been named Kevin by the lady who took him in in Romania and he came over in a van over the weekend with around 20 other dogs.
"I am an animal lover and couldn't bear to think about this happening."
American actor Steven Seagal is one high-profile star to have adopted a stray dog from Romania to "set a good example" following the country's change of law.
Retired Kathleen, 61, is so keen to do more that she and husband Andy are driving to Bucharest next Wednesday to take vital food and supplies out to the city's rescue centres.
They will be driving a van which is being donated to the cause before flying back.
Lucky will live with Kathleen's son Jamie, 37, and she promises he will be spoiled rotten by his new owner.
"Lucky will have a happy home now which is the best possible ending, he really is going to be spoiled," she said.
"He has been as good as gold since he arrived on Sunday, considering he had a three day trip in a van.
"I am not looking forward to the trip to Bucharest because of what I will see but I am looking forward to helping make things better.
"Many dogs are giving birth to pups and starving on the streets, at least in this country if dogs are put down it is done humanely."
Kathleen and Andy will be taking a van laden with supplies on their road trip, but are still appealing for donations of food, blankets and similar items.
Kathleen can be contacted on 07833 308926 and cash donations can be made via Paypal using the e-mail address freedom4paws@hotmail.co.uk
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