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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Nia Dalton

Rescue pooch who found fame on TV sadly dies - but lives on with final wish

She was a diva dog who brought joy to her owners' lives for 14 happy years and lit up the screens of our televisions during ad breaks.

Now, celebrity pooch Honey - who sadly died earlier this year - is set to be remembered in a special event for Pet Remembrance Day.

The Yorkie Jack Russell cross, who arrived at animal charity Battersea as a one-eyed stray, found her forever home with Battersea volunteer Reeta Minhas-Judd.

Then she found fame making a canine cameo in a TV advert for the charity's Wear Blue For Rescue campaign.

After Honey passed away, Reeta and her partner Howard, who live in South London, want to celebrate the joy and smiles she brought to their lives.

Honey was recognised by strangers in the street, and even her owners' postwoman (Battersea Dogs and Cats Home)

This month, they will be toasting Honey's memory with a special commemoration event to remember her whilst raising money and awareness for Battersea.

Reeta said: "When we welcomed Honey into our lives as a young pup, she was such a nervous little thing. My partner had to spend the first few nights downstairs on our sofa alongside her.

"Slowly but surely, she started to come out of her shell and went on to practically rule the house."

Pet Remembrance Day, which takes place every year on July 5, helps pet owners to remember the dogs, cats and other animals who are no longer with us but will always have a special place in our hearts.

Speaking about Honey's star turn on TV, Reeta added: "From the moment Honey was chosen for the Battersea advert it was like she knew she going to be famous and turned into a right little diva. She couldn't get enough of the camera.

"When the advert went out on telly in 2021, everybody was pointing her out in the street saying, 'She's that Battersea dog!' Even our postwoman recognised her.

"She became our little star and as a pampered pooch was always expecting me to give out her favourite chicken treats. We are so proud that she was able to champion rescue dogs and cats during her lifetime, a cause we continue to support."

Michelle Adelman, Battersea's Legacy and In Memory Fundraising Manager, added: "A pet's loving energy, presence and unique quirks make them treasured members of the family.

"As a volunteer and fundraiser, Reeta is an incredible supporter, and it is so touching that she is choosing to honour Honey's memory this Pet Remembrance Day by helping to raise funds for the dogs and cats that we see across our centres that need a second chance in life."

You can find out more by visiting Battersea's website in memory of Honey.

Pet pic

The kitten was rescued from being crushed by a recycling container (RSPCA)

This tiny two-week-old kitten escaped being crushed after finding its way into a recycling container packed with cardboard.

Staff at Makro on Britonwood Trading Estate in Liverpool called in the RPSCA after hearing meowing from inside the container.

It's thought the kitten, named Biff, had been stuck for several days after his mother went inside to give birth. Both became trapped as the space was packed full of more cardboard.

When the RSPCA arrived, they could see the mother's face peeking out at one end of the container and hear the kitten's tiny cries behind her.

The mother managed to escape, but RSPCA inspector Vicki Brooks and Makro staff spent five hours removing pieces of cardboard by hand before Biff was finally pulled to safety.

Vicki said: "It was the most extraordinary rescue I have taken part in, in 21 years with the RSPCA. I don't know how the cats managed to survive."

Did you know?

Who doesn't love a cute bunny rabbit? It looks like we're getting closer to our floppy-eared friends than ever before, with more pet rabbits living inside than outside for the first time.

According to a new PDSA report, more than half the UK's rabbit population, that's 560,000, now live predominantly inside their owner's home, up from 39 percent three years ago.

The charity advised that whether your rabbit lives inside or outside, they need space to display natural behaviour from stretching and jumping to running.

If they're mainly indoors, a dedicated bunny area gives them their own space, and some human-free time should they need it.

Rescue of the week

Kai the donkey lives at Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary (BBC/Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary)

Premier League footballer Kai Havertz had some unexpected news when a donkey sanctuary in Devon named one of their animals after him.

But far from feeling insulted, the striker was over the moon when the charity named their foal after reading an article where he told how his teammates call him "donkey" because of his love of the animals.

The 24-year-old, who is se to join Arsenal from Chelsea, grew up near a donkey sanctuary in his hometown of Aachen in Germany.

The animal is named after footballer Kai Havertz (Getty Images)

Kai said: "I have followed the work of The Donkey Sanctuary for some time so when they got in touch to say they'd like to name a foal after me, I was delighted.

"Donkeys are such incredible animals, and I am very happy to give my name so this little donkey can help raise awareness of the importance of good donkey welfare, here and all around the world."

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