AN animal lover is set to make a star turn in a new TV show where she bids to offer a home to an “unadoptable” dog.

Jenni Cross, of Colwall, near Malvern, will be appearing on screen this week in the first episode of Leader of the Pack, a new reality TV-style show featuring celebrity ‘dog whisperer’ Cesar Millan.

The 53-year-old and her fellow contestants had to show off their dog-handling skills in a bid to offer a new home to Jet, an “aggressive, toy-obsessed” Labrador cross who show bosses warned was “so unruly, he scared possible adopters away” at his Spanish dog shelter.

Mrs Cross, a self-confessed “huge fan” of Mr Millan, entered the show for a chance to meet her hero.

But when it came time to travel to Spain for filming last year, she unexpectedly found herself at a huge crossroads in her life, having been made redundant from her job as an HR manager just days before she set off.

After winning the show and making great progress with Jet over the past few months, Mrs Cross has now decided to put her handling skills and life-long love of animals to good use by opening her own dog walking and boarding business, Walk 2 Heel.

“I was unable to find another suitable job and, inspired by Cesar and all his compliments about my dog handling skills, I decided to give it a go,” she said.

Although it is still very early days for her new business, Mrs Cross has been heartened by the positive feedback she has received about her new direction.

She said Jet had played a huge part in lifting her out of the depression she had fallen into after losing her job and her security.

“Jet has taken a lot of energy but, although I say it myself, I have transformed him,” she said. “He is now a lap dog, a real gentle soul and my running partner.”

Mrs Cross’ appearance on Leader of the Pack will be shown on the Nat Geo Wild channel at 8pm tomorrow.

For more information about Mrs Cross’s new business, visit walk2heel.co.uk or call 07887 523966.