Blue Peter pets first "Blue Peter" dog whose death was not mentioned on the programme. Barney is believed to be an Irish Setter/Dachshund cross and officially joined the "Blue Peter" team on 22 September 2009. He is the show's ninth dog. Barney is a former stray and was given to presenter Helen Skelton by the Dogs Trust. Barney left the show along with his owner Helen on 26 September 2013. The programme has had a long association with guide dogs, which stretches back to 1964 – captivating millions of viewers and helping to transform the lives of thousands of visually impaired people. The
Blue Peter (British horse) France's most important race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris. Blue Peter was retired to stud duty at his owner's Mentmore Stud on the Mentmore Towers estate in Buckinghamshire. Successful, he was near the top on the British General Sires List three times and in 1954 was leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland. His notable offspring included: Other successful Blue Peter sons that were exported into Australasia include Blueskin II, Blue Coral, Bold Buccaneer, Sabaean, Messmate and Wateringbury. Blue Peter died in 1957 and is buried in the grounds of Mentmore Towers close to a statue