Tilly the Therapy Dog Overcomes Adversity to Inspire Others
A rescue dog found abandoned in a plastic washing basket on a roundabout has been named a finalist in the Crufts Hero Award—a remarkable turnaround from her difficult start in life.
Tilly, a two-year-old pup, was discovered when she was just four weeks old, alongside three other puppies. She was taken in by New Hope Animal Rescue, where she was hand-reared in a foster home until she was old enough for adoption.
From Abandoned Puppy to Therapy Dog
Tilly was later adopted by Emily Washington from Strood, Kent, who quickly recognised her potential. In less than a year, Tilly underwent an incredible transformation—passing a temperament assessment at just nine months old to become a Pets as Therapy dog.
The public can now watch each finalist’s story, including Tilly’s, and vote for Hero Dog 2025 until 4pm on Sunday, March 9, by visiting the Crufts website.
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This year’s Crufts competition is set to be a celebration of the life-changing impact of dogs, with Tilly already proving that rescue dogs can achieve incredible things.
