A one-legged disabled dog has been adopted by the woman who saved her life.
Natalia George, founder of Flori’s Friends Rescue in Kent, rescued an 11-month-old puppy from the side of a road after a hit-and-run, and made the incredible decision to keep her.
The German shepherd cross named Giselle was spotted by a traffic camera on the brink of death, and had to have two legs and one paw amputated.
After an intense and gruelling 10 months, Natalia "just couldn't give her away" - partly due to Giselle's complex needs and the "incredible bond" they both made.
"The amount of blood, sweat and tears we went through meant everything," Natalia said.
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When Natalia first saved Giselle from the side of the road last February, her spine had broken and fused together.
Flori's Friends Rescue “couldn’t save her mobility” and called her "the charity's hardest challenge to date".
Despite a difficult and long road ahead, there was no doubt in Natalia’s mind that she would do everything she could to help the puppy live.
“I have a duty of care. My job is to keep injured animals safe,” she said.
“Rehab was so intense and such hard work. The journey we went on together was just incredible."
At first, Flori’s Friends Rescue planned on finding Giselle a home, but her needs became so high, “it wasn’t safe to rehome her”.
“We care for a lot of paralysed and disabled dogs, but Giselle is on another scale,” Natalia said.
Knowing Giselle would struggle to find a family that would fight for her, Natalia made the decision to adopt Giselle herself.
Now, Giselle lives with Natalia at home and is the mascot of Flori’s Friends Rescue.
“Even if she had recovered differently, I couldn’t give her away,” Natalia said.
Giselle now has a custom-made, four-wheel cart from America to help her run around, and a prosthetic leg from a specialist clinic in Oxford.
She also has arthritis and incontinence - but "none of that stops Giselle from enjoying life to the absolute fullest".
Her favourite activity is chasing squirrels, and she spends two hours a day walking with her wheels.
“Giselle had the will to live - there was no other way she’d have survived,” Natalia said.
In total, Giselle's medical bills have exceeded £15,000 in just one year - which is such a huge amount for a small charity.
Natalia has set up a sponsor page for any supporters to donate what they can.
Flori's Friends Rescue have many disabled dogs like Giselle that need a forever home - and Natalia simply cannot home them all herself.
If you would like to give another dog a home, please visit their adoption page.
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