A homeless dog led me to change my life...
WHEN Michelle Clark saw a rough sleeper with his dog, she was heartbroken for both of them. She vowed there and then to do everything she could to help the homeless – and in particular to bring some comfort to their dogs.
Five years later in 2017, she had her own mobile vet surgery, and Dogs On The Streets (DOTS) became a registered 24/7 vet practice.
And then she found the street dog that would change her life.
She met Poppy in 2016 after the Staffie had been separated from her distraught homeless owner.
Sadly, Poppy, who she eventually adopted, died at the end of 2017 from cancer, but the bond the pooch developed with Michelle drives her passion.
DOTS has now helped hundreds of homeless dogs and Michelle, 51, of Enfield, North London, was honoured with the Mirror’s Animal Hero Award in 2018.
In an extract from Poppy The Street Dog: How An Extraordinary Dog Helped Bring Hope to the Homeless, she movingly recalls how they met…
I’m looking for a woman. She’s called Michelle, and she helps dogs,” the man said. I leaned over to him. “I’m Michelle.” To my shock, his body started to shudder with sobbing gulps that came from his very soul.
“Can you help me find her? Can you help find my Poppy?”
In a flash, although he and I didn’t know it, Tom had come into my life with the dog who would change my world.
He told me he had asthma and, with no inhaler, no support, Tom told me of the night when he had collapsed in the street.
When the paramedics came, they had something else to deal with. Poppy. Nothing would make her leave Tom’s side.
The protective Staffie simply would not move from her place. Unfortunately, she had decided her place was right on top of Tom’s chest. The police had no option but to muzzle Poppy for their own safety.
His voice wavered as he said, “I don’t know where she is. They took her from me, but no one will say where she is. I’ve been wandering the streets, night and day, for three months now.”
The man was a wreck. He pulled out a tattered photo from his pocket that had been taken in better times. He looked healthy and clean, with his
Poppy was a constant reminder of why I need to do the work I love
arms around the most stunning Staffie. Poppy was a dark brindle colour with flecks of white streaks like Harry Potter’s scar criss-crossed on her coat.
I felt an instant bond. She had deep, dark eyes and her head was tilted back as she tried to snuggle into Tom.
“I’m not having this,” I told him. “You did nothing wrong and she’ll be heartbroken at the loss of you. Leave it with me and meet me here again tomorrow night at seven o’clock.” I couldn’t fail. I had to find Poppy.
There were so many rescue groups with a social media presence, and that gave me the idea to scroll through the feeds. I got lucky very quickly. There she was! There was Poppy!
I called the police, told them Tom’s story. To my dismay, they said it was unlikely they could release her to him, knowing what his situation was. Tom!
I hadn’t told him that Poppy had been located!
I jumped in my car and rushed to the garden square where I had told him we could meet. He was running towards me as soon as he saw me.
“Have you found my Poppy?” he asked, breathlessly. Tom spoke to the police and suggested giving Poppy to me for now. I knew once the wheels were in motion, I would be able to reunite them, which would be the most magical thing.
Picking her up from kennels, I called Tom.
“I’ve got her!” I could hear him whooping on the other end.
“It’s the best news!” he replied. I parked up and saw Tom walking towards the car. As soon as Poppy saw Tom, her tail started going like a helicopter propeller. She barrelled through the door towards her owner.
He was crying, I was crying, and Poppy was so happy. But what next?
“I’ve been thinking about it while I’ve been waiting for you,” Tom said. “I’ll stay in the hostel, but only if you foster Poppy and see her regularly.”
Although I was taken aback, I also breathed a sigh of relief. Tom signed Poppy over to me and I became her the police
MICHELLE CLARK ON DOG WHO INSPIRED HER
considered quitting Coronation Street in his 40s. The 88-year-old is the longestserving male TV star in a continuous role after playing Ken Barlow since the ITV soap hit screens in December 1960.
But asked if he ever thought of leaving, he said: “There was a time in my 40s. But I’ve always loved Corrie and I remember a director saying every now and then, you’ll get a scene as good as any film.
“And that’s absolutely right. So I get tremendous job satisfaction and therefore never seriously considered leaving.”
Bill Roache
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