A dog who survived the horrors of the meat trade took Crufts by storm recently when he appeared as an ambassador for the charity that saved him.
Little Oliver, who lives with owner Richard Godfrey in Leyton, travelled to Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham to help win hearts and minds as an 'ambassa-dog' for the NoToDogMeat charity.
Lhasa apso Oliver was rescued from a dog meat trade truck in China by the charity and weighed a tiny five kilos when he was found.
He was very sick, had broken ribs and was very traumatised - other dogs rescued that day did not survive.
Little Oliver when he was rescued in China
But after making a full recovery at the charity's shelter in Beijing, little fighter Oliver was well enough to travel to London to his forever home with Richard.
The cartographer, who in his Corporation of London work produced up-to-date maps of the Epping Forest, Whipps Cross and Wanstead, has always supported NoToDogMeat.
He regularly attends their London-based protest events, and Oliver is a proud spokes-dog for the cause.
Richard said: "Oliver does his bit to help by attending the protests and events such as Crufts, if he could talk he would give a very convincing argument!
Oliver the lhasa apso at Crufts
"NoToDogMeat is such a worthwhile cause. I think that our humanity is shown, not just by the care we show for obvious things, but by the care we show for the people and things that have no voice. And that is exactly what NoToDogMeat does."
Julia de Cadenet, who founded the NoToDogMeat charity in 2009, said: "Oliver was a real hit with everyone who came to our stand at Crufts, and seeing dogs like him living healthy and happy lives after their horrific ordeals, really brings home to people that these animals are pets just like the dogs in the Crufts show ring.
"Many people think that the dog and cat meat trade is simply different countries having different cultures, but that could not be further from the truth. In countries such as China many people are working hard to effect change in attitudes, and stop this appalling animal cruelty, and we are there to help them every step of the way."
To find out more about the charity and donate go to www.notodogmeat.com
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