A canine cover star's happy tale

Logan and Katy Murray with Envie, left, and Doodee

Princess Eurilope Patches, known as Doodee, was adopted by vegan artist Katy Murray through K9 Aid in May last year after the charity saved her from a brutal death.

And to raise awareness of this illegal and barbaric practice, three-year-old Doodee is gracing the cover of Dogs Monthly next month after owner Katy sent in a photo of her rescue pooch.

Katy, who lives in Wigginton with stand-up comedian husband Logan, said: “We worked out that Doodee must have only been about three months old when she was stolen and sold by bandits from the meat trade.

Envie before she was rescued. Photo by Khun Witchuda Pothaworn

“But considering all she’s been through, she still loves people.

“She was obviously someone’s family pet at one time, and there must be a little girl or boy out there missing their friend. I wish I could let them know that she’s okay.”

Today Doodee lives with Katy, Logan, a cat called Weenie and their other meat trade rescue, four-year-old Princess Envelope Wilson (known as Envie) who was adopted through charity Soi Dog in 2012.

The two pooches now enjoy daily walks, treats and lots of tummy tickles – a far cry from their tragic past.

Doodee before she was rescued by Katy and Logan Murray. Photo by Khun Witchuda Pothaworn

Katy says the Asian culture’s theology is ‘the more suffering the dog has suffered, the better the meat tastes’.

Animal welfare organisations and activists are campaigning for an end to the practice but for now, dog meat remains legal in countries such as China and Vietnam.

So why have the girls got such unusual names? Katy explained: “When Logan and I lived in London, we knew we wanted a dog in the future so we tried to come up with the most non-doggy names possible – so that’s where ‘Envelope’ came from. We call her Envie for short!”

‘Wilson’ is in homage to Envie’s canine pal of the same name, who sadly did not survive the trip to safety once he had been rescued.

Princes Eurilope Patches, known as Doodee, on the front cover of July's Dog Monthly magazine

Doodee’s Thai name was Euri – after a Japanese popstar – but when she did not respond to it, the couple came up with the nickname Doodee.

Now Katy says the pair of furry friends ‘guard the house from the postman’.

Visit www.k9aid.org and www.soidog.org for more.