Sinead had just become a mother when tragedy struck. Not long after giving birth, she was hit by a car.Paralyzed in her back legs, she dragged herself through the streets, crying and trying to find her missing puppies

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For Sinead, motherhood brought a new sense of hope. She had given birth to a litter of tiny, wriggling puppies in the shelter of an abandoned building on the city’s outskirts. Despite her hardships as a stray, she cared for them with unwavering tenderness, determined to give her babies a better start than she’d ever known.

But just days after her puppies arrived, tragedy struck. While searching for scraps of food to sustain her growing family, Sinead was hit by a speeding car. The impact left her paralyzed in her back legs, unable to stand or walk. In an instant, the life she had fought so hard to build was shattered.

The Longest Crawl

For many, such an injury would have meant the end. But Sinead’s spirit was not so easily broken. Driven by the desperate need to find her missing puppies—who had been scattered and frightened by the commotion—she began an agonizing journey through the city streets. Using only her front legs, she dragged herself inch by inch across broken pavement and debris, her cries echoing off the alley walls.

Witnesses described the heartbreaking scene: a mother, battered and bleeding, refusing to give up her search. “She was crying out, calling for her babies,” said Maria Gonzalez, a local shopkeeper who first spotted Sinead. “You could see the pain in her eyes, but also the determination. She wasn’t going to stop until she found them.”

A Community Responds

Word of Sinead’s plight spread quickly through social media, sparking an outpouring of concern from animal lovers across the city. Volunteers from Hope Animal Rescue, a local nonprofit, rushed to the scene after receiving dozens of frantic messages.

“When we found her, she was exhausted and in obvious distress,” recalled rescue worker Jamie Brooks. “She had severe injuries to her back and legs, but she was still trying to move forward, still calling for her puppies. It was one of the most moving things I’ve ever witnessed.”

The rescue team gently lifted Sinead into a carrier and began searching the area for her missing babies. With the help of neighbors and shop owners, they followed the faint cries of the puppies, eventually locating the entire litter—cold, hungry, and frightened, but alive—in a nearby alley.

The Road to Recovery

Sinead and her puppies were rushed to the Hope Animal Rescue shelter, where veterinarians worked through the night to stabilize the brave mother. X-rays confirmed that her spine had been severely damaged, leaving her permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the grim prognosis, Sinead’s will to live—and to care for her puppies—remained unshaken.

“She was in so much pain, but as soon as we brought her babies to her, she perked up,” said Dr. Linda Chen, the shelter’s lead veterinarian. “She immediately began licking and nuzzling them, making sure they were safe. Her love for them is stronger than any injury.”

As Sinead recovered, the shelter staff fashioned a custom wheelchair to help her regain some mobility. Within days, she was wheeling herself around the shelter, always keeping a watchful eye on her puppies.

A Mother’s Love Inspires

The story of Sinead’s courage quickly went viral, drawing support from across the country. Donations poured in to cover her medical expenses, and offers to adopt her and her puppies flooded the shelter’s inbox.

But for now, Sinead’s focus remains on her family. She continues to nurture her puppies, teaching them to play and explore—even as she learns to navigate her own new life. Her resilience has become a source of inspiration not only to those who cared for her, but to everyone who hears her story.

“She’s a reminder that love can overcome even the greatest obstacles,” said Jamie Brooks. “Sinead didn’t give up, even when everything seemed hopeless. She fought for her babies, and now she’s fighting for her own second chance.”

Looking Ahead

Hope Animal Rescue has pledged to care for Sinead and her puppies until they find loving, permanent homes. The shelter is also using her story to raise awareness about the challenges faced by stray animals in urban environments—and the transformative power of compassion.

As Sinead wheels herself across the shelter floor, surrounded by her playful puppies, she offers a living testament to the strength of a mother’s love. Her journey may have begun in tragedy, but it is ending in hope—a hope that, with the help of her newfound community, she and her family will finally find the safety and happiness they deserve.

For those who have followed Sinead’s story, her courage is a call to action: to look out for the voiceless, to lend a hand to those in need, and to believe that even the most broken among us can find healing and home.

Dog Prices 2025: Here are the 20 most and least expensive breeds of adorable pedigree puppy – from Bulldog to Beagle 🐶

The price of a dog very much depends on the breed. | Canva/Getty Images

How much is that doggy in the window?

We’re a nation of dog lovers, with around one-in-three households including at least one four-legged friend.

By far the most popular pet in the UK, they make for wonderful companions, all the while improving both our mental and physical health – and that’s a scientific fact.

The army of dog owners continues to grow, with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds.

Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.

There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.

There’s also always the option of adopting a dog from a dog shelter for a minimal fee – for example from the Dogs Trust.

But if you are wanting a pedigree dog (one that’s a pure bred registered with the Kennel Club) then you’re going to have to splash out – research from the pet experts at Pets4Homes shows that the average puppy in the UK now costs around £2,000 – more than double the average price in 2019.

But some breeds – due to demand or scarcity – cost significantly more than others.

Here are the 20 most and least expensive breeds of pedigree pup.