Dog found chained to wall in Syria finds new happy home in north-east
A DOG that was found chained to a wall in a Syrian compound has been rescued and taken home to Scotland by a north-east man.
Ghost, who is believed by vets to be a two-year-old husky, is loving life in Gamrie, where he can play and run free in a two-acre field.
However, when local man Rob Wood, who works as part of an explosive hazard management team, found him as a puppy in the eastern Syrian city of Al Hasakah, he was chained, caged and ready to go on show at a zoo.
He said: "We found Ghost in a compound that we took over for work. He was chained to a wall by a guy who was trying to palm him off as a wolf.
"He was in a tiny cage, where he was treated horrendously, set to go to a petting zoo.
"When I saw him I decided I couldn't leave him, I just couldn't do it. So when we took the compound, we worked a deal with the owner that meant we kept Ghost.
"Then the year-long process of getting him back home began."
The often exhausting process of getting Ghost from Al Hasakah to Gamrie was unbelievably long, challenging and expensive.
He had to travel through Iraq, Lebanon, France and Wales – where he was met and driven home by Rob's wife Karen – before getting to the north-east.
But seeing Ghost running around freely makes everything worthwhile, Rob added.
"Ghost been with us for five weeks now and he's loving it," he said.
"We managed to get hold of a two-acre field just in front of our house, so he's loving running around that.
"When he arrived he saw grass for the first time, and I introduced him to water for the first time at the beach recently at he was like a kid in a sweet shop. This is where he belongs.
"It would be a totally different life for him had he stayed, probably worst you could imagine for a dog.
"Although it took a lot of time, effort and considerable money to get him here, it was worth it."
Ghost is certainly not alone at the home Karen and Rob share in Gamrie.
In fact, he's joined by five other dogs – two of which were rescued, one from Scotland and one from Romania – as well as the couple's two sons.
"It did take some settling up with the others dogs but he's all good now," Rob added.
"He's been fantastic with the boys from the start."
Rob and Karen were keen to thank charities War Paws and Many Tears Animal Rescue for their assistance in getting Ghost to Gamrie.
For more information on their work, check their Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/Warpaws and www.facebook.com/manytearsrescue.
