RSPCA: Top marks for clever collie

Thursday, 14 January 2010 12:00 AM

RSPCA staff have taught an old dog new tricks by teaching a Polish pooch to understand English.

Cent the Border Collie was brought to the RSPCA centre in Oldham, Greater Manchester in September when his Polish owners could no longer look after him.

Staff initially thought that he may be deaf but after testing his hearing, they realised there was language barrier.

Animal care assistant Luke Johnson said: "At first, we were baffled because Cent couldn't understand what anyone was saying to him. It was only a few days later when it dawned on us that he must be used to hearing commands in Polish."

Staff at the centre searched on the internet for some basic translations and also asked the former owner's family for assistance.

Four months later, after using a reward-based training method, Cent is now bilingual and responds to commands in both English and Polish.

Luke added: "As soon as we started using the Polish commands, Cent responded instantly which was great and he really has come on leaps and bounds.

"It's not something you would really think about but it makes sense that our society is multicultural so the animals are as well."

This is not the first time staff at the Oldham branch have come across a bilingual pet as they previously had to retrain a cat which had Asian owners and only responded to commands in their native tongue.

The RSPCA is now looking for a new home for Cent. He would be perfectly suited in a family environment with children over 10 years old in a location where he can get plenty of exercise.

Anyone interested in offering Cent a new home should call the Oldham branch on 0161 624 4725.

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Notes to editors.

Staff at the Oldham branch are available for interviews. Please contact the national press office on 0300 123 0244/0288 or email press@rspca.org.uk

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: a href="mailto:press@rspca.org.uk" target="_blank">press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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