For the first two years of her life it is believed Cassie the dachshund was subjected to unimaginable abuse.
Her adoptive family say she was soon to be "slaughtered, skinned and skewered" and sold as food just days before they rescued her from a meat market in China.
But while the scars on her ears and body will be a permanent reminder of the abuse she endured as a puppy, Cassie is now living a safe, happy and comfortable life with her new family in North Shields.
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And less than six months on from her arrival in the UK, her story is being used to help save more dogs from meat markets in China and Korea.
Cassie's new owner, Christine Barker, said: "Cassie has been doing fantastic since she arrived, I'm so proud of her.
"She's losing weight, because she was overweight when she arrived here, her nose is wet, her coat is shiny and her tail is wagging.
"She's settled in really well and we're all besotted with her."
Following the new addition to her family, Christine, 62, decided to write a children's book based on the pups arrival to the UK.
The story centres on Christine's other dachshund Denzel, who is named Slinky in the book, and how he prepares for and copes with the arrival of his new sister Cassie, who is named Lily in the story.
Slinky wonders how different his life will be with a sibling and is not looking forward to sharing the attention of his owner and his toys.
But when Lily arrives from China, Slinky soon comes to love life with his new sister.
The book, which has been published by Newcastle-based Zymurgy Publishing and illustrated by local illustrator Rachel Newell, is on sale now.
And all money from book sales will go towards rescuing more dachshunds from the dog meat trade in China and Korea.
Christine said: "Before Cassie arrived I would always say to Denzel 'you're getting a new sister' and one day it just clicked that I should write a book about it and the money could help save more dachshunds like Cassie.
"My house is full of boxes of books and the lady at the Post Office must hate me, because I'm always in there posting off book orders. I've had over 400 mail orders so far so it's doing really well."
Christine said Cassie is one of around 24 dachshunds to be rescued from China and Korea by the DMT Dachshund Rescue & Support Group, based in Cramlington.
She added that at least 20 more are currently in China and Korea under veterinary care ahead of their transfer to the UK.
The online group has over 5,500 members and was launched in 2019 by Lesley Scott who rescued her dachshund Grace from a meat truck in August 2018.
The group's aim is to rescue as many dachshunds as possible from the dog meat trade and they use regular fundraising and contacts with dog rescue organisations in China and Korea to make this happen.
All rescued dachshunds receive veterinary treatment and vaccines before they are brought to the UK on a flight costing approximately £2,500 due to Covid restrictions.
Christine's book is just one of the ways members are working to raise funds to assist their mission.
Anyone wishing to purchase a book can contact DMT Dachshund Rescue & Support Group or Christine on Facebook.
