The Rat Pack live at Crufts!

Published by Peter Bird for New Charter Housing Trust Group in Communities and also in Housing

Before you start thinking that Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis junior have come back to life, this Rat Pack have smooth coats, cold noses, love being taken for walks and their voices are a little ruff.

The Newton Heath Rat Pack, members of the Newton Heath Dog Training Centre, recently won the Small Crufts Team Qualifier at the Lune Valley Show which now takes them to the big one, CRUFTS! And to make sure the team are as well groomed as their amazing dogs they have had their team kit sponsored by New Charter Housing Trust.

New Charter were happy to sponsor the team as the principles that the Newton Heath DTC have, relating to owners taking responsibility for their dogs by not allowing them to foul footpaths, are in line with their own values of clean and safe neighbourhoods.

Hannah Grantham, an employee at New Charter who will be attending Crufts with her own dog Boo, said: “We are all so excited that we are going to be showing our dogs in Crufts main arena. This is our first year as a team and to achieve this is incredible”    

The Rat Pack will be taking part in the small agility team event where the dogs and handlers run a full Agility course in relays with the aim to get all four dogs round clear, or with the least faults.

Team members are:

Sally Rhodes and Denzil a Norfolk cross Jack Russell

Bob Taylor and Meg a border terrier

Pam Brooker and Titch a Shetland sheep dog

Hannah Graham and Boo a border cross Lakeland Terrier 

Newton Heath Dog Training Club is based in the North Manchester area near Oldham just off Junction 22 of the M60.

Crufts takes place at the NEC Birmingham 7 – 10^th March 2013