On a very sunny Sunday afternoon a large number of Melrose girls, mums, dads and lots of dogs met at Pleinmont to walk for the Born Free Foundation and Elsa. Even Mrs Beebee's dog Bruar brought his Lion as a mascot!
Elsa is a downtrodden lioness, only 6 years old found at a shoddy Italian Circus. She was resigned to living on her own in a miserable cage.
She was rescued by the BFF and is now in a sanctuary in Tuscany where, for the first time, she can experience grass under her feet. the long term aim is to send her to the BF reserve in Shamwari, South Africa where she will have a large enclosure, with trees and bushes, sandy soil to roll in and undergrowth to explore - and where, it is hoped, she can join Born Free's other rescued lions.
We all had great fun walking and we hope to have raised a lot of money to help Elsa get to her Reserve.