Puppy love, new home.. a dog's life

The mistreated dog was dumped in the middle of the night just three days before Christmas in a field near the National Canine Defence League centre in West Calder.

He was rescued from certain death by a worker living on site at the home who was awoken by his plaintive howls for help.

The three-year-old has now found happiness - and love - with a family from Balerno who read his sorry story in the Evening News and decided to give him a home.

The dog was picked by Karen Black, 32, and Rab McIntyre, 43, who fell in love with him when they saw him in the West Lothian shelter. And Orion, who has been renamed Jake, has found love too at the couple’s Bavelaw Road home - with their other greyhound Zoe.

Ms Black said: "I’ve already got an ex-racing greyhound and I’d been thinking of getting a pup, but when I saw Jake in the Evening News I just couldn’t resist him. My dad has always had greyhounds for racing and we took on Zoe when she was retired at ten.

"We were a bit worried at first when Jake came in case they didn’t get on, but they gelled straight away.

"They are always playing together and chasing each other so everything has worked out perfectly.

"The shelter told us that he had disappeared from a family months ago and someone obviously picked him up for racing but discovered he wasn’t any good. He was called Jake originally and responds to that better than Orion, the name the NCDL gave him, so we’ve gone back to that. I’m really glad too because it sounded too much like a clapped out old car for my liking."

She added: "If it wasn’t for the Evening News we wouldn’t have found him. He’s a perfect addition to our family and he is smitten with Zoe. He might only be three while she is ten, but they get on like a house on fire.

"He chases after her just like a typical boy and she loves the attention. We are just glad that she is past the stage of being able to have pups because I don’t think our house is big enough for any more."

NCDL West Calder assistant manager, Sandra Downie, who dashed out in her wellies and pyjamas to rescue Jake back in December, said today: "We are delighted Orion has now found a great home with Karen, Robert and Zoe. It’s a happy ending at last.

"We have hundreds of dogs at NCDL West Calder who are still searching for a happy ending to their story, and we would urge people to call or drop in if they think they can also offer a good home to a rescue dog or even just help us out with a little dog walking ."

Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the SSPCA, added there were still thousands of other dogs like Jake in animal welfare centres in dire need of a new home.

She said: "Greyhounds make great pets. They don’t need any more walking than average dogs and are very affectionate.

"I am delighted that this story has had a happy ending because it could so easily have been tragic. I’m delighted Jake has a warm home to curl up in for the rest of his days."

A new charter was launched last May to improve care for greyhound racing dogs. Its key aim is to ensure the greyhound’s welfare.