The Inspector put a shaking little dog into my arms and told me that the vet suspected a brain defect because she seemed unable to stand unsupported and trembled violently all the time.

She’d been kept by a breeder and at seven months had had little in the way of experiences of the world. The last few days had been very frightening as she had been taken in by a kindly person, then to the vet. And then, when her rescuer felt unable to deal with a dog that might be sickly for life gave her up, to the inspector and then she came to me.  And yet, right away she snuggled right in, gave me a look of absolute trust, and licked my face.

We went into the house. I gave her a dog treat and showed her the water, then we explored the garden together. She ran around happily, jumping on and off the planters and her trembles were much calmer. 

She was way too small for a Staffie of her age at just seven kilos and every new experience was terrifying to her. I tried to help her to feel safe as I gradually introduced her to new things. I was also fostering a tiny kitten at the time, and Snow lay quivering and averting her eyes as this one-kilo scrap gave her the once over.

Walks were difficult as all she wanted to do was get back to the safety of the house. And when she met her first dog, the lovely and gentle Franky whom I borrowed from my neighbours for the purpose, she fled under the table and screamed. Franky looked at me in puzzlement and kindly kept his distance.

But still, over the course of the next few days, she improved enormously, and she proved to be a really affectionate little girl, loving nothing more than a cuddle. The trembles returned when we went to the vet but when we got back home, that was when everything really changed.

She saw that she was back in the same place she had been before. She ran around with a huge grin. So excited. She would come to me for a quick snuggle then would be off again checking out everything. To me it was obvious that she realised she was finally safe and the turbulent times were over.

Even vet visits as we got her vaccinations and microchip sorted, ceased to frighten her and, always up for a cuddle, she was soon a firm favourite with the staff there.

She became great friends with Franky, and they found they both loved to run in circles really fast and engage in puppy play. Soon she was confident with every dog she met, although always appropriately cautious with a new one in case it wasn’t up for play. If she saw that, she would simply let them have their space. I was astonished at how adept she was with other dogs having had so little socialisation before she had come to me. I was so proud of her bravery and willingness to trust.

She met friends and neighbours, adored playing with the kitten that had been so frightening at first and life was just great.

Now she is a super little dog, she never grew much more and has settled at eleven kilos which for her frame is just right. She has plenty of friends, doggy and human and hasn’t met one of either she doesn’t love. One of her best friends, apart from Franky, is a leggy young lurcher named Elvis, and Snow is determined one day to keep up with him as they race around the meadow. But however much fun she’s having with her doggy friends she always comes back immediately when called, because she loves her people too.