DOG owners have lined the streets to show their respects for a woman who dedicated her life to saving Staffies.
Crowds of people and their pets gathered in Kinson on Wednesday to say their final goodbyes to Callie Byrne, the founder of Staffie and Stray Rescue.
Applause and dog barks could be heard shortly after 2pm as Callie’s purple hearse travelled through Wimborne Road, and past the Staffie and Stray Rescue charity shop.
It quickly became clear that Callie had touched many lives within the community.
Sue, who worked with Callie at the charity, said: “Callie would’ve really loved this.”
Callie founded Staffie and Stray Rescue in April 2014 after discovering how many of the breed were left unwanted in dog pounds.
She died earlier this month aged 48 after a short battle with illness, but had helped to rescue and rehome hundreds of dogs during her lifetime.
Many of the those who had adopted dogs from Staffie and Stray Rescue turned up with their pets to pay tribute on Wednesday.
Read more: Tributes paid to Staffie & Stray Rescue founder Callie Byrne
Boris was one of the dogs taken to the procession. He was rescued by the charity after his previous owner had tried to set fire to the house he was in, and he was tragically left with no eyes.
With the help of Callie, Boris was rehomed with a new and loving family, and given a second chance at life.
A close friend of Callie, who had also rehomed a 13-year-old dog from Staffie and Stray Rescue, was another to pay her respects at the procession. She said: “She had a naughty humour, and her laugh was a cackle.
“Staffie and Stray was her vision. She was an absolute powerhouse. In lockdown, a lot of rescue places closed, but she kept going, and for one of the most maligned dogs.
“I’m still in disbelief that she’s gone.”
Her husband added: “She just knew what dogs were right for people, and that’s a skill that just came naturally to her."
Donations have been made to the charity in Callie’s memory, which her daughter Sophie said will go towards fulfilling her mum’s dream of opening a kennel, set to be called Callie’s Kennel.
Donations can be made at https://staffieandstrayrescue.co.uk/.
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