IT’S not your usual love story, in fact it is more of a shaggy dog tale.
But the emotional saga of how Liz Thomas and her beloved pooch Edie saved each other during their darkest hour this week melted the hearts of the RSPCA judges at a top dog show.
They named Edie Manchester’s top rescue dog and he will now go on to challenge for the national title.
When Liz, 36, adopted Edie from an RSPCA dog shelter in Macclesfield she was searching for a soul mate after splitting with her partner of ten years.
Nine-year-old lurcher-cross Edie had also had a hard time of it.
She had been rescued after being found to be suffering from neglect, a hernia and a severe skin condition that had been left untreated and had to be nursed back to health by RSPCA workers.
Yet, despite her good nature, she lay unwanted in kennels for eight months before Liz took her away to begin a new life together.
Liz, a health worker who lives on Westfield Road in Chorlton, said: "I don’t know who rescued who really.
"In the chaos of heartbreak I knew I would benefit from the stabilising companionship of a dog. We hit it off straight away and together both Edie and myself have come on leaps and bounds.
"They say that you know you have found ‘your’ rescue dog when you know you can’t leave them behind. That is how I felt when I first saw Edie. I can’t think why Edie spent eight months in kennels because she is such a sweet, friendly dog and so amenable, I would recommend an older rescue dog to anyone.
"She even helped me through training for the recent Manchester 10k run, during which she would come running with me in Chorlton Water Park. She is a great dog and I’m delighted that she has got the recognition that she deserves."
Edie will now go on to represent Manchester and Salford in the next heats of RSPCA’s national competition to find their very own Rescue Dog of the Year.
Regional competition judges – which included Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan, who plays David Platt’s girlfriend Tina – were bowled over by Liz and Edie’s story during the dog show, which was held as part of the Chorlton Park Festival.
Susie Hughes, dog show organiser, said: "We are all delighted that Edie will represent Manchester and Salford in the regional on-line vote, which will take place in September.
"If ever there was a worthy winner that exemplifies the work of the RSPCA, it’s Edie and her new mum."
People will be able to vote on-line in September for Edie to make it through to the north west finals and then the national finals by visiting www.rspca.org.uk.
