DOG

[Carruthers]

In the midst of political, economic and social turmoil, here's something to warm the cockles of your heart...

A dog breeder has offered hope to Britain's most endangered dog breed with a litter of 10 healthy puppies.

Irish Red and White Setters used to be the pet dog of choice in the UK, but they have fallen out of favour amid a craze for pugs, cockapoos and labradoodles in recent years.

In 2019 only 39 new Setter puppies were registered, compared with 35,347 Labradors.

They are currently bottom of the Kennel Club's list of vulnerable breeds, but with Ve Callaghan's litter, there could be a brighter future in store for the K9s.

Ms Callaghan, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, has already found homes for all 10 dogs.

She is one of the only remaining breeders who deals in Setters and her litter represents a quarter of the puppies born last year.

The Irish Red and White Setter isn't a breed I'm familiar with and I don't recall ever seeing one.

Irish (Red) Setters are now pretty thin on the ground and English Setters are about as rare as hen's teeth.

Plenty more pics here and a video of puppy riotous assembly:

Link