HIS NAME was Busta and it suited him. Everything he touched disintegrated. Deprived of leadership, this 100lb rottweiler was a menace to society.

The good folks at Windiways rescue centre accommodated him while I worked on Busta’s manners. He didn’t take kindly to the lead and launched himself at me whenever the mood took him.

Busta soon realised I don’t tolerate that sort of behaviour and eventually became my buddy, but despite his new found sociability, I couldn’t find anyone prepared to adopt him.

I was desperate to give him a chance at life, but his fearsome appearance was just too much.

I was explaining my plight to Animal Support Volunteer Jane Windsor, who simply said: "Train me and I’ll have him."

Now, Jane’s no giant. In fact, it’s fair to say, she’d have trouble getting onto the adult rides at Alton Towers – but I needn’t have worried. In the psychology stakes, Jane proved more than a match for Busta.

Truth be told, Jane’s more than a match for anything. Together with Evelyn, her Animal Support Volunteer partner, they can bamboozle anyone.

I should have known when they trundled up to the kennels with assorted dogs for me to assess that there’d be an ulterior motive.

Animal Support Volunteers do awesome work rescuing desperate dogs, cats, horses etc. that no one wants. So when they asked me to be the after dinner speaker in aid of their charity, I could hardly refuse.

It wasn’t the best speech of the evening, but according to Jane and Evelyn, it was a soaring oration.

They made me sound like Barack Obama, and while they were on a roll, asked me to be president of the Animal Support Volunteers’ charity.

These selfless ladies sacrifice their lives to abandoned and unwanted pets. They told me Coronation Street’s Betty Driver had already agreed to be patron. How do you say no to a showbiz legend? Just like Busta, I surrendered.

I’m not sure what my presidential duties involve, but I suspect it will include a lot of wild dogs and fundraisers. I can’t wait.

The views on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express