LEAH'S STORY Leah was found collapsed at the side of the road, starving and near to death.  We took her back to the rescue centre where she was immediately placed in the bath for an hour in an attempt to warm her up as she hadn't even got the strength to stand.  She was then rushed to our vets and immediately placed on a drip. We were horrified at the state she was in and it is certainly the most emaciated dog we have ever come across.   Leah is supposed to weigh between 16 and 18 kilos, instead she weighs just 10.  She was lucky to make it through the night.  She had no collar, identification or chip which makes it impossible to trace the people who neglected her like this. Leah is still suffering from the effects of her ordeal but is gaining strength every day and is enjoying the warmth, care and attention that she is getting.
UPDATE 16th December Leah went to the vets today and has gained 1 kilo in weight, which is a good amount for the time we have had her, and they are really pleased with her.  Also her kidneys have started working properly again which is good news.  She has to go back next week for another checkup and we will update you as soon as we know any more news. 20th December For those of you who have been following Leah's story, she has gained another 3/4 of a kilo and is starting to play with the other dogs. She has now got a spark in her eyes. Below is a photograph taken this evening, 19th December. You can see how good she is looking and how well she is doing: 29th December After a very happy Christmas and lots of turkey and potatoes, Leah weighed 14 ¾ kilos at her 3rd vet check today.  Still a long way to go but definitely a step in the right direction. 11th January Leah has been back to the vets and has put on just over another kilo, now up to 16, and is now going on regular walkies and loves to race around after the other dogs in the fields. The vet has now said that she can start her course of vaccinations so it won't be long before she is ready to go to her new home. No-one can believe how quickly she has come on but she has, and she now has a future. Thanks to everyone who has been keeping up with her story and phoning to see how she is. We will keep you updated. 4th March - LEAH HAS BEEN RE-HOMED We never thought this day would come but after a very hard 3 months of work and treatment, Leah has been successfully re-homed which is fantastic news.  She has come such a long way since we first got the call to go and rescue her.  We didn't even know in the first days if she would survive but she was a fighter and we are so pleased she now has a lovely home and a proper future.  We will be updated every so often with photographs and news so will be adding that to the website.

Leah Update Story

June 2007

Last week we had some sad news, Leah had passed away. We knew she had been unwell and that it could have been a tumour, but nothing could have prepared Julie her owner or us for the shock that the cancer had spread throughout the whole of her little body and it was decided not to put her through anymore pain.

Leah had one hell of a life before she came to us and we had a long hard fight to get her back to health and happiness. We wondered if we would ever find the right home for her, then along came Julie. We saw Leah every now and then at charity events and she looked good and was very happy, Julie did so much for her and although she didn’t have a great deal of time in her forever home, we know it was one filled with love.

We would like to thank Julie for giving Leah the life she always should have had, we couldn’t have asked for more for her.

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Frequent visitors to this website might remember a story from Christmas 2005 about a German Shepherd called Leah who entered the rescue in a very poor state of health.  Her story touched the hearts of many people around the region and country and she was finally re-homed a few months later after receiving lots of TLC.

We have just received the following update from her new owners and it just shows how some dogs really do get a 2nd chance at life.

From Julie Field

Meer aka Leah was the very first dog I'd ever owned and so my first experience of taking on a rescue dog.  I'm sure that each rescue dog is very different in their ability to adapt and settle in a new home and that of course depends on how badly they are treated by their former owners.  Meer's story was particularly harrowing and the skeletal state that she was found in was testament enough to some very harsh treatment.


I was naïve enough to think that all her problems could be cured by a good night's sleep in a comfy bed, after a hearty meal but was I in for a surprise.  The first few months were not easy.  Meer had been totally traumatised by her experience. The physical scars could be remedied but not the mental scars, dogs never forget .  Meer exhibited the traits of an obsessive compulsive - she was frightened to eat and when the bowl of food was put infront of her she'd regard it suspiciously and prowl up and down the corridor as if she was looking for that person who'd taken the food away.  I made so many mistakes: expecting her immediately to respond to my voice when I told her to sit, instead she just looked at me absolutely terrified.  I almost lost her one day when I thought she'd benefit from a romp in a field - she took off like a scared rabbit and I had to crawl through bushes to eventually retrieve her.  I'd spend hours sitting on the floor offering her biscuits, if they upset her system I'd try another brand - never realising that it wasn't the biscuits Meer was living on her nerves.

Meer collapsed one day and I rushed her to the vets - after carrying out many tests they concluded that she was suffering from pancreatitus.  The vet described her as a diagnostic puzzle because although the tests were saying one thing Meer wasn't displaying the physical signs of the disease.  I persevered, sometimes wondering whether I'd bitten off more than I could chew but there was something very special about this dog.  Meer's not one of those dogs that provides endless amusement but she has qualities that reach you at a very deep level.  She follows me everywhere and will quietly lay her head on my knee or stand as close as she possibly can to my leg - I really am her universe and somehow I couldn't give up on her.  I think the turning point came when I rescued a very gutsy Jack Russell.

The company was good for Meer and she started to relax a little.  After months of following my every move, she started to take herself off to the top of the stairs to sleep and started putting on weight.  I have never felt such a supreme feeling of satisfaction… all that work was worthwhile and has given me a wonderful sense of achievement.  I could have so easily given up on her and missed the journey that we both went on.  Meer has taught me how important it is, once you've made a commitment, to stick with it and how empty life can become if we give up at the first hurdle.  Yes dogs can really teach us more than we could ever believe possible…..  And they are lessons that everyone of us need to learn.