Dog dodged death and became racing champ

An injured dog’s life turned from near tragedy to triumph when she was given a second chance.

Siberian Husky Crystal was hit by a car and mounting veterinary costs made it almost certain that she would be put to sleep. However, Dogs Trust West Calder stepped in to care for her, and after operations and intensive treatment she started on a long road to recovery.

By chance, Thomas Edwards was taking part in a dog course at the rehoming centre when he spotted Crystal. With two Siberian Huskies of his own, Thomas knew the breed well, and after hearing Crystal’s sad story he hoped that along with his wife and their two dogs, Bracken and Euro, he would be able to give Crystal a new start, and help her overcome her trauma.

Thomas said: “I knew the best thing for Crystal’s recovery would be to spend time with other Siberian Huskies for companionship. She is a little miracle. At first she wouldn’t entertain another dog, now she happily plays with dogs and loves meeting new people.” After Crystal had recovered from her physical injuries Thomas and his wife - whose dogs take part in Sled Dog Racing – decided to see whether Crystal, would enjoy a new hobby to help her emotional rehabilitation. Thomas added: “We worried that Crystal’s injuries would stop her, but we built up her strength and stamina with walks and swimming, and slowly introduced her to racing. She now runs a three dog team, and they have so many rosettes we’ve lost count.”

Thomas and his wife credit Dogs Trust for being able to give Crystal a new start as her previous owners couldn’t afford the veterinary costs. Thomas said: “Dogs Trust made the whole process very simple and helped us every step of the way. They helped us locate her pedigree papers so she could race. Racing has given her a new lease of life.”