'Busters' doubles - Bleakholt pups to star on TV

Date published: 12 January 2009

THREE rare puppies are set to became stars of the small screen for one night – thanks to their resemblance to a celebrity pooch.

The Bichon Maltaise dogs, which are only 10 weeks old, will appear on the Paul O’Grady Show in a piece filmed at the Bleakholt animal sanctuary in Edenfield.

The trio, named Bauble, Cracker and Angel, were feted for their likeness to O’Grady’s own beloved companion Buster.

Bleakholt general manager Neil Martin said: “They are very well behaved and loved being on camera.

“We all said at the sanctuary that they looked like the dog on the Paul O’Grady show and it is a fantastic bit of publicity for us that they were interested.”

O’Grady, who was also well-known for his Lily Savage character, often presents his Channel 4 show with Buster alongside him.

Bleakholt is currently being filmed as part of an upcoming Discovery Channel documentary called “Animal Sanctuary”. Producers of that show contacted Channel 4 which led to the puppies being filmed.

They appeared on the Paul O’Grady Show with sanctuary worker Carolyn McMahon.

In the clip, which was filmed in the past few weeks, the puppies are given a “nodding” Buster toy which they mob and tear apart.

Mr Martin said the dogs all arrived at Bleakholt before Christmas after their owner could no longer look after them. Two of their siblings have been re-homed and the remaining three have all been found a new home that they will be heading to shortly.

The animal sanctuary is currently running at full capacity with more than 500 animals at the centre including 130 dogs, 230 cats and rabbits, ferrets, horses, donkeys, pigs and goats.

The clip is set to be shown in the new series of the Paul O’Grady show on Channel 4 later this year.