A MOTHER-of-two, who has made a living out of rehabilitating aggressive animals, has been shortlisted in two categories for a major animal awards.

Loni Loftus of Bedale, mainly re-trains animals that have been previously abused or neglected across the county and the North-East.

Ms Loftus, who lives with her partner Mark and her children, Amalie and Jesse, has dealt almost a thousand cases of aggression in cats, dogs and horses since gaining industry accreditation and starting up her own firm, several years ago.

The Northern Echo:

But in August, the animal expert said it had been a “massive surprise” when she discovered her nomination in the Animal Star Award’s Animal Behaviour and Training, and Rescue and Rehabilitation categories.

She said: “It was a really nice surprise, I didn’t know who nominated me. I found out that I had been nominated in August, but was told I was shortlisted around two weeks ago – it was a massive surprise. I didn’t expect it.”

Ms Loftus, originally from Masham, studied after noticing a problem amongst owners who “could no longer cope” with their horses' erratic behaviours.

She said: “I have always worked with horses, I studied a degree in Equine Science at Cirencester and noticed that there were a lot of problems with behaviour and people getting rid of horses.

“I got much more into the behavioural side, then realised it was the same with cats and dogs so I went and done Applied Animal Behaviour at Newcastle University – it went on from there.”

After establishing her firm - Loni Loftus Behaviour -she began to deal with cats and dogs.

She said: “I tend to come across serious issues with aggressiveness where dogs are either quite aggressive to other dogs or people. It can sometimes be caused by just things in the home, but others can be if dogs are frightened by men or fireworks. For me it’s really just going through that process – changing that reason of aggressiveness from a negative one to a positive one.”

Ms Loftus said a rise in the number of Britons rescuing from dogs from other countries, led to more cases of aggression.

She said: “People do it with their best intentions but bringing them from one lifestyle to another is really difficult.

"I had a case, where one dog, imported from Spain, wasn’t at all used to the British lifestyle of being in the home environment.

"It really struggled to adjust to another way of life – it got quite aggressive to anyone coming to the home – it ended up being a success, but it took an awful long time.

"Some dogs have had a really horrific life and have been abused and neglected, whereas others that have been neglected are so thrilled to have some love and care.”

  • Ms Loftus will find out if she has been successful on October 19, when the awards are held.