An animal lover has thrown her doors open to the world’s unluckiest pooches to show that EVERY dog has its day.
From Nahar the labrador to terrier Roscoe and German shepherd cross Hannah – all have lost limbs but are thriving thanks to a UK charity.
Many taken in by Gill Daghistani and fellow volunteers travelled thousands of miles to be given a new leash of life.
And it all started when former dental nurse Gill took in wounded Wolfie – a rescue dog from Hungary which faced being put down because of its injuries.
Gill, 47, paid for special care and Wolfie lived happily for another two years. The rewarding experience led to Wolfie’s Legacy, which has saved 500 disabled hounds from doggy death row.
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The charity is based in Holywell, Flintshire, where Gill cares for the likes of Saudi Arabian Baladi Nahar, found next to a garage in Saudi Arabia after being hit by a car.
Nahar had both rear legs amputated and is hitched up to a set of wheels to get around .
Despite his woes, he is great around children – and looking for a “forever” home.
Former soldier Simon Johnson, 53, got his dog Hannah from the charity and loves seeing her darting off into the woods on walkies.
Hannah lost a leg after being hit by a car in Bosnia – where, by coincidence, Simon did three tours in the Blues and Royals cavalry regiment.
Simon says: “On one tour we had a stray we adopted we called Major, a massive sheepdog who became our mascot and guard dog. So I felt an instant bond with Hannah and, ever since, she’s made every day special for us.
"She’s faster than our fully-able labrador Dexter and you couldn’t meet a more loving, devoted dog. Our two dogs are best friends. It’s madness that if Wolfie’s didn’t exist, Hannah would be dead.”
Gill tells how her heartstrings were tugged the day she took in Wolfie.
She says: “I fell head-over-heels in love with Wolfie, refusing to believe he had to be put down. I realised that while many people were willing to rehome able-bodied dogs, nobody was doing the same for dogs with special needs.
“They were rejected at ‘rescues’, or put to sleep because they were perceived unlikely to enjoy a ‘normal life’.
“With Wolfie, I proved this wasn’t the case and decided I had to do something for all the other dogs out there like him.”
Gill linked up with other local volunteers and put the word out that she would take in unloved dogs. She was quickly inundated with requests – and Wolfie’s Legacy was formed in 2017.
Its reputation spread and Gill and her team get thousands of calls. Simon and fellow adopters help out with fundraising and logistics involved in rehoming dogs.
And the list of happy new owners is growing. Hannah Coxon, 26, and son Cooper, three, welcomed three-legged Roscoe in Matlock, Derbys, last year. The pup was found in northern Macedonia with a damaged leg which had to be amputated.
He was in kennels for a year before Wolfie’s stepped in. Hannah said: “My son and Roscoe are the same age and it’s brilliant to watch them grow up together.
Lucy Stern, 38, of Chester, and daughter Matilda, three, adopted Jack Russel-cross Mini. She was rescued in Romania with a shattered spine after being hit by a car. An X-ray showed the injury and at least one vet recommended Mini be put to sleep.
But a second opinion changed that and Mini is doing well. Lucy said: “Mini is simply the happiest, most placid dog you could meet.”
Mum-of-six Jenny Miller, 73, already had a busy life caring for two adopted daughters with special needs – Katie, 26, and Charley, 18 – but that didn’t stop her giving a home to five dogs from as far away as Bulgaria and Romania.
Hope has three legs, Maggie has two, Arthur lost half of his nose to an exploding firework, Woody wears a nappy and needs a walker to get around – while Keith has an overshot jaw.
But Jenny, from Exminster, Devon, loves them to bits and says: “The children associate with the dogs as they’ve got problems too, but we don’t dwell on their disabilities unless someone asks.”
Pamela Leadbetter, a retired solicitor from Bradford, West Yorks, says her adopted dog, Faith, was a lifesaver.
Faith has one weakened leg – while Pam, 65, has suffered PTSD, depression and anxiety. She says: “Faith makes friends with everyone she meets.
“I feel much less anxiety when I am out of the house with her and have chatted to so many new people. Faith is like an ambassador for rescue and special needs dogs. She has brought joy and significantly improved my mental health. Faith is my unofficial therapy dog.”
Gill says the charity “will never turn a dog away for being too disabled” so long as it is humane to keep it alive.
She adds: “Despite their suffering, Wolfie’s rescues have an indomitable spirit and a will strong enough to overcome the greatest odds.”
The charity has outgrown its current premises and aims to raise £250,000 to build a unique rehab and adoption centre specifically for disabled dogs.
And ex-soldier Simon is backing them all the way, saying: “If dogs really are man’s best friend, surely that applies to disabled dogs too?”
