She didn’t fall from despair—she fell because she had nothing left… but her eyes still hoped

No one slowed. No one turned back. But she kept walking, not out of strength—but because something in her eyes refused to give up.

She walked with trembling legs, ribs jutting out, a deep wound slashed across her face.

The cars sped by.

She didn’t bark. She didn’t cry. She just waited—for someone, anyone, to care.

We called her Diana. And she kept going, because hope hadn’t left her yet.

Margaret was 62, retired, and lived in rural Texas. On her way to the Saturday farmers market, she saw a small, emaciated dog wobbling along the road’s edge.

It wasn’t walking—it was surviving.

The dog’s fur was patchy, her ribs were painfully visible, and a raw, open wound stretched across her face. She didn’t look up when Margaret approached. She didn’t flinch either.

Margaret knelt, slowly. She extended a piece of bread from her basket. The dog tried to eat, but her jaw trembled, too weak for the effort.

Margaret didn’t panic. She whispered, “You’re not alone anymore,” and called for help.

When our team arrived three hours later, the dog was lying beside Margaret’s feet, her breathing shallow.

We named her Diana.

At the vet, silence filled the room. Diana weighed just 21 pounds—less than a third of what her breed should.

Her legs were wasted. Her hips covered in pressure sores. “She’s been lying on concrete,” the vet said grimly. “Likely caged. Possibly neglected for months.”

But she was still alive.

Painkillers, fluids, wound dressings—it began. Diana didn’t resist. She didn’t whimper. She just lay still, as if afraid this kindness would vanish like all the rest.

She made it through the night.

Each small improvement felt like a miracle. On day three, she ate half a bowl of soft food. On day five, her eyes followed us around the room.

By day seven, Diana did something no one expected: she lifted her head when Margaret walked in.

And we saw it. The flicker. The beginning of light.

A dog who had every reason to give up… hadn’t.

Because sometimes, the smallest spark of hope is all it takes to change a life.

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.