Left tied up and petrified on the side of a busy road near White Hart Lane Stadium in North London, Sophie the Cane Corso’s luck turned, when she was found by a veterinary nurse working nearby.
After spending some time in the local warden’s kennels, she found her way into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
On arrival, it was clear to see that poor Sophie had been through a lot in her short life. Her ears and tail had been deliberately docked, to give her a more intimidating look. Battersea’s vets believe her ears and tail could have been cut with a pair of scissors. Despite her tough exterior, Battersea staff soon discovered that Sophie was a complete softie.
Sophie’s full story was broadcast on the first episode of Battersea’s multi award-winning ITV series, Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs. In a surprise twist, Sophie was adopted by Amie Gilman - the very same vet nurse who found her by the roadside.
Amie fell in love with Sophie the day she met her and, when no one came forward to claim her, she was determined to adopt her. Amie tracked Sophie down to Battersea and it turned out to be the perfect match for the gentle giant, who now lives with her in Harlow, Essex.
Amie said: “I just knew straight away that I needed to have Sophie. She’s settled in well and has even made friends with my cat and my ferrets. She’s such a friendly and loving dog and all she wants to do is say hello to everyone. She is an amazing ambassador for bigger breeds.”
Steve Craddock, Centre Manager at Battersea, said: “Cane Corso’s are often misunderstood with people mistaking their size, large features and bouncy behaviour for something more aggressive.
“Sadly, in Sophie’s case, someone’s tried to make her look more intimidating than she is by cruelly docking her ears and tail. Here at Battersea, we never judge a dog by its breed or the way it looks, and Sophie is a prime example of why you should never judge a book by its cover.”
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs is shown every Wednesday in the UK at 8pm on ITV.