Dog lover, the Princess Royal is to highlight the plight of the Skye terrier – the Scottish breed of Greyfriars Bobby fame – which campaigners are battling to save from extinction.
She is to visit Skye next month to unveil a statue at the home of the breed, which is endangered partly because of the trend for so-called designer dogs such as the labradoodle.
Only 17 puppies were registered with the Kennel Club in the UK last year making it the club’s most threatened native breed.
Campaigners are hoping Princess Anne’s visit will give a boost leading to more people wanting the breed and thus saving it.
With only 3,000-4,000 pure-bred animals left in the world, the dog once favoured by Queen Victoria and Mary Queen of Scots is now as endangered as the tiger and the giant and red panda.
The Skye Terriers Club, which commissioned the statue, is aiming to raise awareness for the under-threat terrier, the oldest Scottish breed dating back to at least the 14th century.
Only between 30 to 40 pure-bred puppies are born each year around the globe, and a world-wide effort is being made to save the breed. Experts claim around 300-a-year need to be born to prevent the breed becoming extinct within just a few generations
Princess Anne is to unveil the statue at Armadale Castle on July 24.
Gail Marshall, secretary of the Scottish branch of the Skye Terriers Club, said: “People are instead buying designer dogs, cocker spaniels with poodles, labradors with poodles, the list is endless which is sad.
“People are doing it for money. It seems a shame that people are not backing vulnerable native breeds like ours instead.
“We have reached a point where it is very difficult to find a stud dog – many have to be sourced abroad. Finland has the most.
“Queen Victoria had a kennel full of Skye Terriers and Mary, Queen of Scots had one under her skirt when she was beheaded.”
She added: “People are now going for cross-designer breeds, and the Skyes are being forgotten about. People just don’t know about them – that is why Princess Anne’s support is so valuable.