For almost 10 years now, Sara has been running a pet supplies company called Doggy Bag. Aside from working tirelessly to speedily dispatch dog food out to fur-parents, she and the other staff are also passionate about rescuing strays.
“We have taken in about 20 dogs and homed a handful of them,” explained Sara. “Those who don’t get homed stay with us and become part of our family.”
She elaborated that the rescued pack lives in the Doggy Bag office and eats Doggy Bag food comprising fresh, natural, whole foods that are cooked and frozen.
“This is made possible through the Project Esperanza initiative, which helps to ease the financial burden borne by rescuers who feed the rescued dogs.
“Through donations, Doggy Bag helps to feed other rescued strays and gets them fit and healthy and on their way to a loving family.”
One particular rescue that stood out to Sara was a little dog called Princess Peaches. Despite her pretty name, this dog has been through rough patches and miraculously survived it all.
“We were driving into Tesco one day when we spotted a little dog standing in the middle of the parking lot, looking beat,” recalled Sara.
“As we are rescuers, our car is always equipped with items to try and lure or catch dogs in need, but we didn’t need any of that with Princess Peaches.”
Sara had picked her up in a blanket, as Princess Peaches was too weak to fight her or run away.
According to Sara, the sound and sight of Princess Peaches crying when she was picked up will forever be ingrained in her memory.
“She was in pain, I think. She was skin and bones and I was so scared I would break her,” sighed Sara.
Princess Peaches had, at the time, two infectious wounds infested with maggots, and hardly any fur; her skin was like leather to touch.
Sara had rushed Princess Peaches to the vet and rested there. The vet had informed Sara that had she waited a few more days, Princess Peaches wouldn’t have made it as she was malnourished, dehydrated and drained.
“We couldn’t figure out her breed, but she resembles a fox or Bambi. The vet predicts her to be about two to three years old,” said Sara.
When asked about Princess Peaches’s name, Sara explained that the pooch had a small tuft of orange fur on the back of her neck — which served as inspiration.
“When we brought her home, we quarantined her from our other dogs and got to see her experience all the comforts of life. Pillows and carpets are her favourite things,” smiled Sara.
“She had to wear a small shirt because her skin had cracked so much as she was shedding everywhere. But she always managed to weasel her way out of it!”
Surprisingly, despite the vet preempting Sara that Princess Peaches’s fur would never grow back due to the state she was in, the opposite happened.
“Within a month, her hair started to grow back, her skin healed and she was putting on weight,” grinned Sara.
“She is just a ray of sunshine. Never without a smile on her face.”
Sara divulged that at the moment, Princess Peaches’s favourite thing to do is to play with water, and that “whenever the hose is around, she’s there.”
In fact, Princess Peaches has nibbled on so many hoses that Sara has to resort to hiding them!
Though Princess Peaches has only been with Sara for a year now, Sara said that she cannot imagine her life without this little water-loving and happy-go-lucky rescue.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.