We picked up Ellie from GSD Scotland August 2009. Ellie had been rescued from a very bad situation and was massively underweight. After the vetting process Ellie was re-homed to us, her age was estimated at eight. Teal'c our other Shepherd was eight also, so our thinking being they could grow old gracefully together.

Ellie was timid and scatty when she first arrived, Teal'c realised this and stood between her and any dogs annoying her in the park. When she realised life was not so bad she came out of her shell a lot more. Ellie also came with a regal attitude, considering her condition this was amazing. She would have no time for any other dogs, never aggressive just could not be bothered with them. Same with humans unless she knew you, she would just turn her nose up. Some may not like this but when she got to know you she was the most loving and caring creature. This gave us the most pleasure, seeing her real personality that was reserved for the ones she liked... as my wife said 'she was a princess in another life'.

We believe Ellie had been in a kennel all her life. To give an example, we could not get her to walk upstairs. We had to get Teal'c to go up and down the stairs about ten times before she had the courage to make it all the way up on her belly. At this point Teal'c was knackered being the instructor for the day!

Another example, she could not run. When she ran in the park she ran like a puppy, tripping up on her tail and generally uncoordinated. She pretty much stayed this way but she always put a smile on your face watching her. She would chase the ball in the park but not pick it up or not see it. Teal'c would go stand on her ball (it squeaked) until she picked it up, in the end she learned to use her nose and find the ball by herself. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks..... She also learned to swim, or in her case paddle about. Either way she loved being in the water in hot days, again seeing basically a pensioner do this for the first time was heart-warming.

We got Ellie up to 30KG from the 21KG she weighed when we first got her (at no time was she overweight) and in general her health was good. Unfortunately her health slipped away from her and she lost weight before the end.

We took a timid, underweight older dog and with the help of Teal'c and lots of love and affection turned her into the proud Shepherd that was always within her. The journey was sometimes a bumpy one, but a journey we have absolutely no regrets about taking and we would do it all again in a heartbeat.

No words I write will explain the feeling of loss now Ellie is gone, the impact she had on our family in 3 years was immense. To give her the best years of her life was the single most rewarding thing we have ever done.

No regrets just good memories. Our thoughts are with you always.

Gordon, Mags & Teal'c