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Stars of Ipswich Regent pantomime meet gorgeous new Blue Cross puppies Jack and Bean
Pantomime stars George Sampson and Lauren Grice with puppies Bean and Jack. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
The stars of Ipswich Regent’s Jack and the Beanstalk production paid a visit to the Blue Cross centre in Ipswich yesterday – to meet two new arrivals by the name of Jack and Bean.
Pantomime stars George Sampson and Lauren Grice with puppies Bean and Jack. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
The two chocolate labradors were born at the centre around four and a half weeks ago, after it received a call from a lady who had been given a dog, the mum Nessie, as a gift.
Blue Cross rehoming centre manager Karina Grimwade, said: “She had only had her for about four weeks, she had been given as a gift and she didn’t know what to do.
“She had a pregnant dog she didn’t know was pregnant, and she had quite a lot of young children in the home, the home was quite busy, so she asked us if we could help.
“We asked her to come down and she brought Nessie with her, and of course we said we could help and that we would take her.”
Pantomime stars George Sampson and Lauren Grice with puppies Bean and Jack. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
Around 10 days later the first of the puppies was born at around 4am, with Ms Grimwade and other centre staff helping carry out midwife duties until the next morning when the second had arrived.
“We knew we wanted to name them something to do with the season that was going to be coming up but didn’t want to do anything too traditional,” Ms Grimwade said. “We just started talking about pantos and I love panto and the names just kind of were – they suited them from day one.”
Pantomime stars George Sampson and Lauren Grice with puppies Bean and Jack. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
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Yesterday, the adorable puppies enjoyed cuddles with the stars of this year’s Regent panto, Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson and partner Lauren Grice, who were eager to meet the new arrivals.
The panto pair also met Nessie for the occasion, who has settled with her puppies well.
Pantomime stars George Sampson and Lauren Grice with puppies Bean and Jack. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
Ms Grimwade said: “Mum is a really good mum, she absolutely dotes on them, and she is really fantastic with all the staff and volunteers as well, and she is happy to accept our help and get the puppies fully socialised and ready.
“The puppies are amazing, everybody loves all of them. They are a perfect little family so they are doing really, really well.”
The centre is now preparing the rehoming process for both the puppies and Nessie.
After Christmas applications will open, before the centre staff go through the applications and decide where is best for them.
Jack and Bean will be homed once they reach eight weeks, with the aim of rehoming Nessie at a similar time.
To find out more about the animals available, visit the Blue Cross website here.
