A blind Ayrshire rescue dog is in the running to become the face of Scotland's biggest pooch show.
Abby, an Andalusian Podenco, is competing with 12 other breeds to become the The Dog Lover's Show face of 2023.
Stewarton couple, Katie Stephen and her partner Jonathan, adopted Abby almost four years ago from Blind Dog Rescue UK. Abby was found abandoned, tied to a tree with double glaucoma, a broken toe, a hematoma and two hernias. The volunteer team at the shelter fought to save her sight but in the end, the kindest thing was to operate.
Her owner Katie, 32, who is Behaviourist and volunteers for All Dog Rescue Scotland, said: "Abby spent six months at the rescue being nursed back to health and learning to live without her eyesight. From the day we adopted her she's been the most incredible, resilient, fiercely loving dog you could ever ask for. She really is an inspiration.
"We've always called her the Bee as when she first came home she marched straight out to the garden and spent the afternoon sniffing flowers. We couldn't believe how well she adapted to being in a new space.
"We think she's about eight, her birthday was the day of the photoshoot for the final so we celebrated with a family day out in Glasgow after the shoot. It's hard to believe she's a senior now, she has always been so lively and adventurous and she has no plans of slowing down just yet."
The Dog Lover Show will take place on September 9 and 10 at SEC Glasgow, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the world's most amazing dogs.
Katie said: "This is a unique opportunity for Abby. She doesn't fit your traditional show dog standards. The Andalusian Podenco isn't even Kennel Club recognised but more than that she's representing a forgotten breed who are discarded at the end of their working lives and exempt from animal cruelty laws in their native Spain.
"It would genuinely be a once-in-a-lifetime thing to see a rescue Podenco and a disabled dog as the face of Scotland's biggest dog show.
"It's nerve-wracking and exciting all at the same time. Abby is taking it all in her stride, of course, nothing phases our little adventurer."
Katie continued: "The local community has really rallied behind her, more than we ever could have expected. Abby is unique and people haven't always been kind so it's just beautiful and heartwarming to have found so much love for her right here in our town.
"She's also received a lot of support from the Podenco community here in the UK. It's a big responsibility but we know that she'll be a fantastic advocate and representative for the breed. We're so incredibly proud of her for making it this far. Seeing all the things that make her beautiful and unique being celebrated- that really got me."
The vote for the Dog Lover's Show face 2023, will be open until Tuesday, June 6 here.
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