2022
Kestrel
Underdog of the Year 2022
In January we arrived at the pound in Cyprus to see a trembling, heavily pregnant dog huddled in the corner of the kennel. She was one of the most frightened dogs we’d met. Kestrel was likely an escaped breeding bitch, used for churning out hound puppies for the hunting seasons. Wherever Kestrel came from, she’d not been treated with kindness. She was terrified of people and would cower if she was stroked, as though she’d been hit before - it was heartbreaking to witness.
She was however an amazing mum, and after four months raising her puppies, we decided to find Kestrel a foster home in the UK that could give her more 1-2-1 focus. She was making no progress in Cyprus and needed to be around other dogs to learn how to trust and improve her confidence. Thankfully, it paid off. She was adopted a few months later and she’s a totally different dog now. She loves her walks, belly rubs and home comforts, and finally she knows that no one’s going to hurt her.
Dobby
Runner up
Dobby was one of the Pride Pups, rescued from the streets of Romania back in June 2020 with his siblings. Although he was adopted as a puppy and didn’t have to wait long to find his forever home, settling into a conventional companion lifestyle in London hasn’t been easy for Dobby. He can often be anxious and reactive, so he needs his own space and he can’t always be the sociable dog that people dream of having.
However, thanks to his adopters perseverance and commitment to learning about dog behaviour, Dobby has made such a lot of progress. His confidence has grown and his threshold for many situations has improved as he feels safer. He’s since been able to settle on the train, in cafes and at restaurants, which is amazing for a little Romanian street pup. Dobby’s been given the understanding and commitment he needed and in turn he’s provided constant love and loyalty.
Teggy
RUNNER UP
Senior pup Teggy (formerly Jasmine) spent most of her life locked in a room without windows. She was mistreated, shunned and kicked until finally someone came to her aid. Through stress, fear and frustration Teggy had developed OCD like symptoms and mutilated her own tail. She also struggled to trust new people or accept them touching her. At the age of eleven she was offered a home in the UK but the stress of the journey caused Teggy to snap at her new family in fear and they decided they couldn’t adopt her.
We were gutted, and Teggy went into a series of foster homes. No one seemed to want this old, sad, broken little soul and for months she was overlooked, until finally we had an enquiry. A year on and Teggy is a changed dog. She is friendly, happy, loves nothing more than playing ball and supervising her adopters working from home. She now has a newfound love for life and for people, and is finally where she’s meant to be.
Denny
RUNNER UP
Denny was rescued from an animal hoarder in Cyprus after being severely neglected. When the veterinary services accessed the property to remove Denny, she and the other dogs were eating their own faeces to survive. They were starving, sick and highly distressed. Denny went to a local foster home but was debilitated by her lack of trust and anxiety. After months of no progress we decided to find her a foster home in the UK where she could have more focus.
Thankfully, the decision was the right move and just three months later, Denny found her forever family. Her journey hasn’t been easy. Not only did she have to learn how to trust people from scratch, but she also spent time in and out of the vets for cancerous lumps, two hernias and a cyst. We could never have anticipated her to be so resilient and brave, but now she’s a different dog with a character like no other.
Strawberry
Strawberry was rescued from a breeding farm in China after the owner decided he no longer wanted his dogs. She was living in squalor and was without any comfort, vet care, human interaction, exercise or decent food. The farm owner was threatening to sell Strawberry and the other dogs to the meat trade in an attempt to make one last buck off them before sentencing them to a cruel fate.
Thankfully the dogs were all rescued by the SHS team, and it wasn’t long before Strawberry had secured herself a wonderful forever home in the UK. Since she arrived she’s charmed the masses with her small but mighty personality, secured her position as queen of the household, and is basically a local celebrity. How different her life is now from the miserable background from which she originated.
Cleo
Cleo was rescued from under a bridge in Romania with her siblings and mum as a tiny puppy. So many Romanian puppies aren’t as lucky, but Cleo landed in safe hands. Sadly, because of her submissive, gentle nature, Cleo soon found herself being bullied by other dogs. She was too small and shy to hold her own, so she would distance herself and watch everyone play together, desperate to join in but not brave enough to try.
We were over the moon when Cleo was offered a foster home in the UK. Just like Kestrel, she needed some focus in order to thrive and once again it worked wonders. Cleo’s confidence improved massively and she even became social enough to go to cafes and meet new people. She’s now found her perfect doggy pals who have welcomed her into their pack and she’s no longer left out.
Gracie
Gracie was rescued as a stray from the streets of Cyprus and was suffering from patella luxation (dislocating kneecaps) in both her back legs. She had to endure weeks of crate rest following her operations and was desperate to get out and enjoy her walks by the time she was fully recovered. Her adopters waited patiently for her in the UK until she was fit to fly, finally welcome her home in May this year.
Gracie’s first few weeks were a bit of a rollercoaster after she was misdiagnosed with epilepsy following unexplained seizures. Thanks to the help of a brilliant vet who volunteers her time to help rescue dogs it was discovered Gracie had paroxysmal dyskinesias. Now with a balanced exercise routine, which sometimes often involves her being carried (sometimes in a rucksack!), Gracie’s condition is under control and she’s loving being a companion pup.
Pearl
Pearl was rescued from the streets of Mauritius where she was found as a starving stray. She was roaming the beach in a terrible state, searching for scraps of food or compassion from tourists. She had lost all of her fur from severe mange, and was completely shut down - she looked as though she’d given up hope. Thanks to the relentless efforts of her rescuers, slowly Pearl’s coat began to grow back, her eyes started to shine again, and her cheeky personality appeared.
Pearl has now found her feet in her forever home in Norfolk where she’s quickly claimed her place as lady of the manor. She’s a smart, loyal and sometimes defiant little dog who knows what she wants and how to get it! She’s well and truly left her street dog days behind her and is relishing her newfound life surrounded by loving humans.