Driving home in icy conditions on an unpopulated, major road, I saw a little black scrap on the verge,  scrabbling around on the frozen mud. This little pup was so thin, pure black and its head was shaped like an apple pip. It was absolutely petrified of me but completely disregarded the trucks thundering past it and had clearly been in this desolate spot for a while. It was so growly and defensive and took a bit of catching but, as usual in these circumstances, it was so hungry that it eventually dropped its guard out of sheer desperation and I was able to catch it. 

This video is immediately after that, just before we set off for the vet:

A little male, I named him Pip / Pipsqueak and apart from being emotionally shut down, underweight, and slightly anaemic from a squillion fleas, the vet was pretty happy with him and he came home with me with a few meds, for lots of TLC, good food and to grow up and out a little, with the resident doggy foster family and Ruzha (check out her story too; she and Pip became quite the double act)

The safety and the love and the good food and all the cuddles and having a doggy foster family, all these things helped Pip to grow into his true self: a cute, cheeky little devil, affectionate, friendly and a bit bossy actually (he shouted at me when he felt we should all go to bed).

Pip found his forever home in the UK, with friends of mine, and he traveled over with his beloved Ruzha. He became inseparable from the youngest in the family and they formed an astounding bond; it was amazing to see. I wish every child could have a Pip in their life.

❤️