Rescue dog Kratu brings joy to Hartsdown students in end of term visit

Kratu meets youngsters at Hartsdown

Photos Jamie Horton

Delighted students at Hartsdown Academy in Margate received an unexpected visitor for the end of term.

Kratu, a six year old Carpathian cross Mioritic, and owner Tess Swan made the trip from Newhaven to visit the school and find out about the latest fundraising efforts.

Tess rescued Kratu and his siblings from Romania and eventually he came back to the UK. After training Kratu was officially recognised as an assistance dog for Tess, who lives with autism.

Since then Kratu has become an ‘Ambassadog’ for IAPWA, a charity which campaigns for change through uniting animal lovers worldwide who want to use their voice and act to help animals in need.

He has also become the first Romanian rescue assistance and therapy dog to return to Romania to highlight what can be achieved through love, kindness and reward based training.

Added to that was his performance at Crufts in the rescue dog agility team last year which went viral with nearly 11 million people watching it.

Tess and Kratu met children and staff, donated some doggie treats for families with pets and explored the school.

Tess said: “We went to make some children happy and to experience for ourselves what people are going through.

“I wanted to bring joy, fun and to make people smile and seeing those big smiles on the children’s faces was something else.

“Kratu was delighted to meet all the children and even did some tricks.

“The school and parents should be very proud of the children who were all very courteous and polite. It was really uplifting and a ray of sunshine.”

Find out more about Kratu here