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It was a puppy called Yani who turned Denise Sharp into a rescue champion.
Ms Sharp opened the German Shepherd Rescue Trust in 2002 after her three-year-old pet died following a long string of health problems.
Although the 59-year-old had always had animals, Yani's struggles helped claim a piece of her heart for all German shepherds, she said.
"I still get teary talking about it. Anyway, about the same time I got a call saying there's this dog [a German shepherd], the owner is going overseas. Could I help?
"It kind of grew like topsy; we had more dogs before we knew it."
The trust takes in dogs who haven't been claimed from animal control, or have been neglected, and finds homes for them with the help of volunteer foster families.
Since Ms Sharp started, the trust has helped 752 animals find families.
Along the way she's seen some horrible examples of cruelty.
"I've seen a dog hogtied to the point it has rope burns on its feet and doesn't know how to use its back legs. We had one in a few weeks ago that was tied up on the end of a 7ft chain and absolutely skinny as.
"There was a dog that was in a crate for five years. You can't print what I'd like to say to those people."
Although she holds down a fulltime job as a medical secretary, her rescue work takes up "every spare minute".
Some weeks she might see up to 11 dogs, and administration and other chores mean she often doesn't get to bed before 1am, Ms Sharp said.
Keeping the trust running involves finding the money for vet and food bills that can run to over $30,000 a year.
The payoff, though, comes from seeing dogs finally getting the chance to have a good life, with good people.
