Gun dog handler’s home plea
Wednesday 12th August 2009, 11:46AM BST.
Claire Simonetti, second from left with Trinny left and Susannah
A Shropshire gun dog handler fears that she and her 20 dogs could be left homeless after she was told her services on a county estate were no longer required.
Claire Simonetti moved to an estate in Stanton upon Hine Heath two-and-a-half years ago to help run a kennels and stables business.
But the owners from the south of England have now put the premises up for sale and she has been told she needs to move out.
Claire, who featured in a Trinny and Susannah makeover show earlier this year, is desperately looking for a house she can rent in the countryside that has outbuildings to accommodate her dogs.
“I have a good business that I have built up training dogs as well as working my own dogs on estates,” she said.
“This means that at any one time I can have up to 30 dogs with me, so I need to find somewhere I can rent that is detached and has outbuildings in which the dogs can live.
“I have looked everywhere and friends have given me suggestions and are trying to help, but I just cannot find anything.
“It is not me I am worried about, it is the dogs.
“It really looks as if we will be homeless if we cannot find somewhere soon,” she added.
“Much as I love my dogs, they are not pets and need to live out of the house.”
Claire’s work with her gun dogs featured in the latest Trinny and Susannah television series when the makeover duo tried to get Claire out of her trousers, sweatshirts and boots and into dresses.
Anyone who can help can ring her on 07768 223200.
By Sue Austin
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Bit of a non-story this. People have been losing their jobs and their homes for years. She helped to run a kennels business and it’s cloasing wow-weee! Happens to businesses everyday. Just because she has 20 dogs the SS is trying to make everone feel sorry for her. Get rid off the dogs and join the real world!
Report abuse
I think the point is that the lady needs to rent somewhere that accept pets!!! This is the problem at the moment which I had, I needed to rent a house but everyone I went for wouldnt accept a dog! I was lucky because my Parents took my dog in! so for the Local Resident who I quote said ” get rid of the dogs and join the real world” wouldnt getting rid of the dogs add to the another problem? So many animals getting abandon and in Rescue Centres waiting to get re-homed I think they need to get in the REAL WORLD! stop adding to another problem and maybe someone can help this lady!!!!
Report abuse
shouldn’t this be in the classfied “propertys wanted” section, not the news one. I’d like a new house too, can I have a piece in the ‘paper?
Report abuse
Don’t think you can classify 20 dogs as “pets”
Report abuse
I still think your missing the point!!!! It could be 1 dog, 2 dogs or whatever!!!
Report abuse
you cannot give 20 dogs one to one attention. No one NEEDS that many dogs. no one will want to live next door because of the noise. rehome the dogs keep one or two and get another job. Who can afford to keep that many dogs.
Report abuse
The dogs are how she makes her living. You cannot advertise working dogs in the classified sectiion as they are not suitable for household pets. I think it is showing initiative by getting off her backside and doing something about the predicament she is in. As regards a non- story, its got you lot all talking!?
Report abuse
Did half the people that commented, actually read the article? They are working, gun dogs – her living. If she gave them up, she would not have a living and would then be claiming benefits – to which I suspect you would all then moan about that. Whether or not you regard it as a ‘non-story’ is irrelevant.
Report abuse
Tim makes the excellent point that the dogs are this wench’s living. However, if her current career does not provide a roof over her head and premises to keep the tools of the trade [id est, the dogs], it’s time for a trip to the vet so that they can be humanely euthanized.
Report abuse
Tim, How exactly do you make a living out of gun dogs? Breed and sell the pups? i think u will find most people train their own gun dogs. And actually, working dogs make excellent pets, well trained and responsive. where do u think retired guide dogs go… pet homes. Better than euthanasing them I would imagine.
Report abuse
From some of these comments, I just think what a sad world we have come to live in. To normal people with a bit of heart, this is a human (and animal) interest story which I found interesting. Whether she has one dog or one hundred, nobody can work with animals unless they have some affinity with them. I have just lost a westie through cancer, my wife and I had her from a pup 12 years ago, it has devastated us.
I hope that this young woman is able to get whatever she wishes to make a successful life for herself and her dogs. Good on the Star for bringing it to notice – is there some kind, yes, kind person out there?
Report abuse