She has had a rough start to her life. Her owners went away on holiday and while away told the people taking care of him and her brother they didn't want them anymore

She has bad skin on her legs but with a little tlc and some good cream are slowly improving

On July 26th we celebrated her 8th birthday and 7 magical years together. I adopted her from an animal shelter just thirty minutes from euthanasia. She was very sick with heartworms and mange and was quite a mess when I first got her. Her name means 'the strength to overcome adversity with dignity and grace' and she's lived up to it. She is my best friend, and I jokingly refer to her as my emotional support dog. She's seen me through some tough times. She is very accomplished in various dog sporting arenas but her greatest accomplishment by far is her prowess as a therapy dog (PAT dog). She's been a registered and active therapy dog since she was two years old, and has warmed hearts and spread cheer all over the United States and Mexico in that time. There is not another dog in the world quite like her; someone else’s throwaway, my treasure.

Fate played a major part in my life that cold January afternoon. When it was our turn to go in I was overwhelmed, so many little faces, yaps, and wagging tails. One tiny nose pushed its way to the front and began talking to me, not barking but vocalising as only a soulmate could ever do. Telling me all about herself and the joys that were to come as part of our life together.

My life has not been the same since. She is a true friend, companion and soulmate. She is the dog that taught my youngest how to love dogs and not be scared. She is the dog that knows when that special cuddle is needed. She is there when I am in the darkest of places and there when tears of joy are rolling down my face.

She was a rescue.

The question is…Who rescued who?

She had been kept with their mum and dad and 2 sisters in a 12 foot square, concrete garden until they were 6 months old and were handed in when they became too much trouble.

Her main diet had been dried pasta and she had never been out of the garden. The rescue centre were unsure as to whether to rehome her or not because of her cross but, luckily, they did.

When she first came home she was scared of everything, she had never been in a car and would not get in, was sick when she was lifted in and would not get out when we got to the house. She had never been inside a house and was scared of all of the appliances. She had never been on a collar or lead so used to spin furiously when they were put on and she was totally freaked out by puddles, but the saddest thing she was scared of was grass, she had never had any experience of it and refused to stand on it.

It was a long, long road until she came around and she is now a dream dog. She loves people, dogs and best of all she loves life.

He had a bad start to life, his mum died giving birth to his litter, then he spent the next 3 months in kennels, he then was bought by a young family and they treated him appalingly, he was beaten up, thrown across the room, had lighters flaired up in his face and is terrified of many things.

When we picked him up, he was terrifed of every thing, as soon as we moved, laughed, raised our voice in any way, he arched his back, tucked his tail between his legs and wet himself, then fled to the nearest place he could hide, and stayed there shaking like a leaf, now he's a happy confident boy who loves doing obediance and agility, and he has complete trust in us.

She had entropia so bad and ulcers she could not see at all.
She has had her eyes operated on and is now spayed.
She is such a brave girl.
She has been with us now 8 weeks and is coming on leaps and bounds.
She was one of 4 and now everyone has settled into new forever homes.
She just loves meeting people and is enjoying everything in life.
The way it should be.
She gets on great with my two male chows.