🌟SAGE UPDATE – FROM “UNMANAGEABLE” TO UNSTOPPABLE! 🌟
If you ever needed proof that understanding changes everything, then settle in, because Sage’s story is one you won’t want to miss.
💔 Sage was failed—over and over again. By people. By rescues. By those who should have helped him but instead gave up on him. He was labeled "too difficult," "too much work," and left behind time and time again. No one took the time to see past his chaos, past his frustration, past his desperate need for direction. He wasn’t aggressive. He wasn’t unfixable. He was a dog who had been let down, misunderstood, and written off. And it almost cost him his life.
But not anymore.
Enter Holly, our 21-year-old dog-training powerhouse, who has taken Sage under her wing and turned their relationship into something straight out of a motivational sports movie. Holly doesn’t see a problem dog—she sees an athlete in desperate need of a coach. And Sage? Oh, he adores her. It’s like watching a hyperactive intern finally get noticed by the boss. He’s so eager to impress her, so desperate to be the star pupil, that the minute she gives him direction, he locks in like a missile.
Now, don’t get us wrong—Sage also has a great relationship with Ellie, who has worked with him beautifully, helping him come so far. But there’s no denying that his special bond is with Holly. There’s just something about their dynamic—maybe it’s her energy, maybe it’s her timing, maybe Sage just sees her as the ultimate teacher’s pet and wants extra credit—but whatever it is, it works.
So let’s be honest—Sage can still be a nippy little gremlin when he’s over-excited. Without direction, he’s like a raccoon on crystal meth, bouncing off the walls, causing chaos, and making decisions that would get him fired from any respectable workplace. But here’s the secret: give him a job to do, and he transforms. No more mayhem, no more mischief—just focus, drive, and determ
Clovis – The Comeback Kid We Always Believed In
Rescue is hard. Heartbreaking, soul-crushing, scream-into-a-pillow kind of hard. The dogs who’ve been failed, the humans who let them down, the so-called “trainers” who did more harm than good—it would be easy to throw in the towel. But then… there are moments like this.
This is Clovis. A dog once labelled too dangerous to ever walk. A dog someone, somewhere, decided was beyond help. But look at him now. Look at that waggy tail, those soft ears, that glorious sniffing of all the good sniffs. Clovis isn’t just walking—he’s thriving.
Has it been easy? Not even slightly. There was no magic wand, no overnight transformation, just sheer patience, kindness, and giving him a say in how his story unfolds. He still has a long way to go—public places are a no for now, and he’s still suspicious of the world (understandably so). But here’s the thing: he’s learning to trust. And instead of reacting, he’s learning that his humans have his back.
To the incredible rehab team working with him, we see you. We see the hours, the setbacks, the tiny victories that mean the world. You give dogs like Clovis what they were always owed—a chance. And for that, we are forever grateful.
And to Clovis? Mate, you have an entire army cheering you on. One day, we hope you realise just how special you are. ❤️🐾 #clovisthebrave #EveryDogDeservesAChance #rescuedoneright
Christmas Auction
🐾 A PLEA FROM THE DOGS OF SALT’S HELPING HOUNDS! 🐾Hi, humans! It’s us – the dogs! 🐶 We’ve been hearing lots of talk about this auction thingy going on, and apparently, it’s all to help us have safe, warm places to live while we wait for our forever homes. 🏡❤️There are over 300 amazing items up for grabs – and loads of them still don’t have any bids! That means there’s a TON of goodies still waiting for you! 🎁 We’ve sniffed out some fabulous Christmas treats in there, perfect for the holiday season!But here’s the catch: the auction ends TOMORROW at 8pm! ⏰ So please, if you can, jump in and place a bid. Every single bid brings us one paw closer to a better life – more food, warm beds, and the help we need until our forever families come along. So, paws together, humans! Let’s make these last hours count. Visit the auction, share it with your friends, and give us dogs the chance we’ve been dreaming of. Thank you from the tips of our wagging tails! 🐕💖https://www.facebook.com/groups/SHHAuction/permalink/8489874341132902/?
Enzo update 💜
Update on Enzo: A Week of Transformation and working with Save Our Seized Dogs-Putting BSL to Sleep UK to help another underdog 💜
Look at the difference just over a week makes when in the care of a fabulous team who have given Enzo the time and patience to relax and simply be himself. As Enzo’s personality emerges, he is described as very goofy and quite puppy-like.
Enzo came from the most appalling environment, where he was contained almost constantly in a crate with multiple other dogs in the same position. This left Enzo incredibly stressed, overwhelmed, and shut down.
As those who followed Enzo’s introduction post will be aware, many questions were raised, such as why we used a photo of Enzo prior to his time under our care. With dogs that have experienced significant physical and mental trauma, we always put their well-being first. The last thing Enzo needed was a camera in his face.
We believe these recent photos of Enzo demonstrate that we made the right choice.
Our boy Enzo is loving, smart, anxious, and clingy. As he has started to feel safe, he has been learning to try and play, which has literally brought tears to the eyes of those around him.
Enzo is just lush! He has separation anxiety, which is not surprising given his background. For Enzo to start building a bond but not have full trust, separation anxiety is a completely rational behavior based on survival instincts.
As a rescue, there were accusations that we stole Enzo or that one of our team intercepted a transport run with Enzo on board. That is absolutely factually incorrect. Enzo was relinquished into our care, and as always, we have a full paperwork trail to evidence that.
We are more than happy to answer any questions on this post where we can. We would ask people to remain polite and respectful with any questions or responses. We know emotions have run high, but we would ask people not to post graphic photos of alleged neglect. While we appreciate that people feel this shoul
Farewell to Star 💔
Farewell to Star: A Journey to the Rainbow Bridge.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Star's passing yesterday. Star's story is one of hope, love, and transformation, and it all began in 2021 when he found himself in at Leigh Dogs and Cats Home being long term kennelled when his owner became ill, Star was there quite a while and then sadly his owner passed away.
They reached out to us to see if we had a foster who could offer him a home. At 11 years old, finding a foster or forever home was going to be an uphill battle for this senior dog. However, fate had other plans for Star when our rescue reached out with a post that caught the attention of a remarkable young couple.
Ellisha and Chris stepped forward to offer their home and hearts to Star. From the moment he arrived, the change in him was nothing short of miraculous. What was once a sad and unhappy dog quickly became a picture of joy and vitality. Star's frown was turned upside down, and he expressed his newfound happiness with boundless energy and affection.
As is often the case with families who welcome a rescue dog into their lives, decisions about boundaries can shift. Initially, Star had his own cozy bed, while the sofa was reserved for humans. But it didn't take long before Star claimed the sofa as his own, often sharing it with his humans or squeezing onto a chair to keep Chris company while he worked on the computer.
These moments brought laughter and joy, highlighting the deep bond that had formed between them all.
Ellisha and Chris fostered Star in Dec 2021, giving him everything he could have wished for and more. Their love and care provided Star with a lifeline, and by 2022, they made it official by adopting him into their forever family. Star thrived in an environment filled with unconditional love and support.
Yesterday, we were heartbroken to learn that Star had peacefully passed away. Ellisha and Chris are left to navigate the difficult jo
Sage 💜
Hi, I'm Sage! Isn't that a great name? Do you like my name? What's your name? Shall we be friends? I want to be friends!
I'm told I have been quite an excitable boy—is that a good thing? They say I'm easily hyper or over-aroused. I don't know what that means, but it sounds funny 😂.
Did you know I didn't always live here? I've lived in LOTS of houses, but the people there didn't want to be my friends. They didn't want to play, and I LOVE to play. They say I played the wrong games and ruined furniture or maybe nipped at people, but I didn't know that was wrong, did you? I wish they had taught me games they would play WITH me, so I didn't have to play my own games by myself.
In one house, I remember playing with a cat bed. I thought it was the best toy ever! I was shaking it and having so much fun when a man tried to take it away from me. I didn't understand why. I tried to grab the cat bed back, but I accidentally caught the man's hand with my teeth. He got really upset, but I didn't mean to hurt him. I just wanted to keep playing.
From November 2023, I bounced from home to home and from kennel to kennel. It felt like a never-ending cycle. People were sharing posts about me and kept saying I was safe, but I didn’t feel safe. Just when I thought I was starting to settle in, I would be moved again. Every new place smelled different, had different rules, and different people. Some places were noisy with lots of other dogs, and others were quiet but lonely. Each time I moved, I felt more and more confused and anxious. Would I ever find a place where I could stay? If this was what being safe meant then I really didn’t like it.
Eventually, they said that no one else would let me in their house and I'd never have friends. I was so sad to hear that. I was taken to live in dirty and disgusting cage at a rescue full dirty old chicken sheds all on my own. The floor was cold, and it was damp and full of rubbish, I could hear the chickens clucking outside, but they w
Our Vinny 💔🐾🌈
Remembering Vinny: A Beloved Rescue Dog's Journey to Rainbow Bridge
Today, we celebrate the life of Vinny, a rescue dog who today crossed the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 13.5 years. Vinny's story is one of resilience, love, and the incredible bond between a dog and his foster family.
Vinny came into our rescue with nothing but a collar and lead, accompanied by the all-too-familiar backstory of being "loved and adored" but needing to be rehomed due to personal issues. Rather than dwell on the negatives, we choose to honour Vinny’s journey, which took a heartwarming turn during Christmas 2021 when he found his forever foster home which quite literally saved his life.
Vinny needed a family that could provide both love and the commitment to help him achieve a healthy weight. Enter Val and Mick, seasoned foster parents who had previously cared for another special dog named Timmy. Although Val wasn't quite ready for a new foster, Mick insisted that Vinny needed them—and he was right.
Vinny became a precious gift from Mick, who sadly passed away shortly after Vinny joined their home. In the wake of this loss, Vinny became Val's constant companion, bringing comfort, laughter, and love into her life when she needed it most. It was as if Mick knew that Val and Vinny would need each other.
Recently, Vinny fell ill, and it was initially suspected that he had pancreatitis. However, an ultrasound revealed a devastating diagnosis: a tumor in his liver. Despite efforts with high-dose steroids to give Vinny more quality time, the treatment was unsuccessful. Today, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Vinny as he began his journey to the Rainbow Bridge, joining many who have gone before him.
As a rescue organisation, we are profoundly grateful to Val for the love and care she provided Vinny. Her dedication to him was unwavering, treating him as her own and even wanting to cover his final veterinary bill.
Val, you have our deepest gratitude and sympathy during this difficu
A massive thank you 💜
Clovis, Humphrey and Aurora want to say a huge thank you for all the amazing gifts you have sent them. We as a rescue are genuinely touched by peoples kindness and outpouring of love for these beautiful souls 💜
Humphrey and Clovis
To whom it may concern,
You did your best to break our hearts, our bodies, our minds, our spirits. You starved us and kept us in dirty, noisy, smelly kennels. The days turned into endless misery as we grew weaker, our bodies deprived of food and clean bedding. We began to break down. Our skin developed painful sores, cuts, and broken areas on our feet. The urine we were left to stand in caused blisters on our feet, our bottoms, and anywhere that touched the filth. Poor Clovis started to lose hope and began to chew his tail in desperation. Every gnaw was a plea for help, a silent scream for relief.
We were exercised and made to perform for your videos, all for Facebook likes, even though our bodies desperately needed good food, clean bedding, and rest. Each forced movement felt like torture, our weary limbs crying out for mercy. Neither of us thought we would survive much longer. We wondered what we could have done to make you hate us so much. We looked to you with pleading eyes, seeking an answer that never came.
Somehow, an angel arrived. We didn't know it then, but we were frightened and very wary. We were moved somewhere where our beds were clean, even if we were in cages. What could be happening? Why had we moved? Was this our new punishment, tiny crates for life? The people there were kind. There was food, and our sores were carefully cleaned. I don't know what we were given, but both our tummies felt funny, and there were worms in our poo! I heard the word "emaciated" lots of times, and the people looked sad.
Next, a man came. He put us in a car, and oh my goodness, he had the best food! The beds were warm and clean. Neither of us knew where we were moving. God, we hoped it wasn't back to you. Then, I'm ashamed to say, out of pure exhaustion, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, we had stopped. The car was open, and a lady was there. She let us out, one at a time. Clovis was happy for fresh air, but I was suspicious. I could hear other dogs; I thought we had be
Aurora
Once upon a time there was a special puppy named Aurora. With her sparkling eyes and boundless energy, Aurora had the heart of a lion and the spirit of a whirlwind. She was only 9 months old, but her journey had already been filled with trials and triumphs.
Aurora has leg deformities, which will make the future challenging. She spent time confined to a small kennel or crate, her days filled with a longing to experience the world. Running freely in the fields, chasing butterflies, and feeling the soft grass under her paws were only distant dreams.
One fateful day, her life took a turn for the better. Two kind organisations called Salt’s Helping Hounds and Save Our Seized Dogs-Putting BSL to Sleep UK heard about her plight and decided to take her under their wing. They saw not just a puppy with leg deformities but a spirited little girl who deserved a chance to live her life to the fullest.
After a weeks stay at the vets Aurora was moved to her first emergency home, where her journey of rehabilitation began. She was poorly and underweight, struggling with gastric issues that made her weak. Her new home showered her with love and gentle care. They gave her a nutritious diet and medication to help her grow stronger. Slowly but surely, Aurora began to put on weight, her coat grew shinier, and her eyes sparkled with a new found hope.
In her new home, Aurora experienced the warmth of human touch and the comfort of snuggles on the sofa. Her days were filled with gentle training sessions and the joy of discovering new toys. For the first time, she felt what it meant to be loved and cared for with loving hands.
As Aurora's health improved, it was time for her to take the next step in her journey. She moved to a new foster home, a place with wide-open spaces where she could explore and play. Here, Aurora has discovered the simple pleasures she had always dreamed of. She sniffed the grass, chased after leaves, and learned the joy of treat-snaffling.
Her front legs, whic
Rocky aka Spud
Rocky, or as his foster family lovingly called him, Spud, had been through quite the ordeal. At 10 years old, most dogs would be slowing down, enjoying the comfort of their golden years. But not Rocky. Despite his tumultuous past, he was still full of life, eager to embrace each new day.
It all started when Rocky found himself caught up in an incident at home involving his owner. The aftermath led to Rocky being seized and held in police kennels. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months as Rocky waited anxiously, unsure of what his future held.
But fate had something else in store for him. We were contacted, and as we are dedicated to helping dogs like Rocky, so we stepped in. We reached out to the Derbyshire police, advocating for Rocky's release. With our knowledge of Rocky's history and understanding of his temperament, we secured his freedom and his foster home was lined up ready to welcome him into their home
However, just before Rocky was set to be released, the kennels dropped a bombshell. They claimed Rocky was unpredictable and had even attempted to bite some of the staff members. This portrayal of Rocky was starkly different from the one we knew.
Undeterred by these claims, we remained steadfast in our commitment to Rocky. We refused to let him slip through the cracks. Despite the setback, we welcomed Rocky into our care, determined to give him the chance he deserved.
With a slight change of plans, Rocky found himself in rehab kennels, undergoing a thorough assessment. But much to everyone's relief, Rocky proved to be the same friendly, loving companion that we knew him to be. He reveled in the attention, soaking up every ounce of affection offered to him.
Rocky was ready for the next chapter of his life, he is in a loving foster home, where he has flourished under the care of his devoted foster family. Gone were the days of uncertainty and fear. Rocky had found his sanctuary in rehab kennels and a foster home where he could be himself wi
The very handsome Groot 💜
This is the very handsome Groot, a loyal and loving companion who found himself in an unfortunate situation where he jumped at a neighbour as a seven month pup and scratched her.
Groot was then seized by the police and placed in police kennels, where he remained for eight long months. During this time, he had little interaction with humans or other animals, and the confines of the kennel left him anxious and withdrawn. During this time Groots owner was fighting to have Groot released. A few months ago Save Our Seized Dogs became aware of Groots plight and again we as a rescue collaborated with them to help get this boy free and start his journey to a forever home.
Despite his time in confinement, Groot's spirit remained unbroken. He longed for the freedom to run and play, to feel the sun on his fur and the wind in his face. But as the months passed, hope began to fade that he would ever experience such joys again.
We all worked hard to negotiate his release from the police kennels with the brilliant Four Legs Law - part of Cohen Cramer Solicitors.
Finally and with great team work following a series of legal letters the police agreed they had no grounds to detain Groot and he was released to Salt's and we arranged for him to be transferred to a rehab kennels that do amazing work with dogs like Groot.
At the rehab kennels, Groot's transformation has began. Surrounded by caring staff, he is slowly starting to come out of his shell. He is learning to trust again, to wag his tail in excitement, and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Under guidance of a brilliant team Groot has begun his journey to rediscover his inner puppy. He has played fetch, played and is learning to receive affection from gentle and kind hands. With each passing day, his confidence is growing, and the shadows of his past will slowly fade away.
Unfortunately when dogs are released from police care they very rarely arrive with anything to call their own so Groot has his very own wish list if
Small, foster based rescue, based in the UK run by a dedicated volunteer team
