A COUPLE from North Tawton will be taking a leap of faith when they jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet to raise money for a dogs charity.

Pippa and Derek Scott will skydive this summer in order to raise money for the canine charity, One Dog at a Time Rescue.

The charity, which has saved hundreds of abandoned dogs from horrific conditions in Romania, has just three months to raise £70,000 to buy its rescue centre in Bistrita Nasaud.

Over the past few years the charity has rented its Happy Trails centre and the landlord has now given a deadline of September 30 for the charity to come up with the purchase price otherwise it could lose the property it to another buyer.

The charity is very close to Pippa and Derek’s hearts as their much loved family pets, Anca and Willow, who had been brutally beaten in Romania, were rescued by One Dog at a Time and taken to Happy Tails.

‘If the charity didn’t have Happy Tails I dread to think what would have happened to them,’ said Pippa. 

‘The dogs had been living on the streets and Willow in particular was in a bad way as a result of the beatings. Having their own rescue centre meant that the charity could immediately get the dogs off the streets and take them to the safety of their wonderful kennels where they could be properly treated before finding them a home.’

‘Life is really hard for Romanian abandoned pet dogs and there are no families that come to adopt them if they end up in the government’s public shelters, which are also known as kill centres for good reason! 

‘Romanian shelters only requirement is to keep the dogs off the streets and a combination of scarce food and filthy conditions mean that the dogs don’t last long. It’s such a tragedy as there are so many other wonderful dogs like Anca and Willow who deserve a chance of life. One Dog at a Time Rescue and their rescue centre give them that chance.’

On August 5 Pippa and Derek will be joined by six other brave supporters who will be taking on a skydive for the first time to raise money to help save the dog shelter.

Charity co-founder Jayne Watts said: ‘I can’t thank them and the other fundraisers enough for trying to save Happy Tails. Without people like them there’s no hope for the dogs in Romania, who are still treated like vermin on the streets and in the public shelters with stories too awful to tell.’

If you wish to help Pippa, Derek and the charity achieve their dream, you can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Pippa-Derek-Scott