She was the loving bitch who was saved from being sold to the Chinese meat trade after she could no longer breed.
But these adorable images show that Pandi, short for Pandita, has now found her forever home, 4,800 miles away in West London.
This is all thanks to the work of a few aid organizations, including Acton-based baker Alessandra (‘Al’) Estrada, a Mexican-Canadian dog lover who runs the quirky Cake Me Baby bakery.
The three and a half year old Pomeranian Pandi, unable to walk due to her deformed hind legs, spent the first part of her life in cages and was used for breeding. When she could no longer reproduce, she was instead “sold for meat”.
Thankfully, this fluffy white cutie was supported by a number of rescue workers and agents in Asia before being brought to the UK by the Silver Fox Dog Rescue, where it was discovered by Alessandra.
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The previous owner of a Chihuahua with special needs named Noodles – who sadly passed away a few months ago at the age of 14 – Alessandra was looking for an animal in need to find a loving home.
She said, “I have a firm belief in moving a dog, not buying one. Almost all of my dogs were in new homes – it was Noodies.
“But thanks to the lockdown, there are so few dogs in the shelters and a million applicants per dog that I was always counted as single or had no garden … despite the fact that I was looking for a Chihuahua.
“I’m nothing but determination, so I researched and checked diligently all the major rescue sites – for the record, I wasn’t good enough for the Blue Cross or the Dogs Trust – until one day I found the Silver Fox Dog Rescue.”
When she saw Pandi, who was listed as “Trixie” on the website, she immediately felt that she had found her.
“She was my dog and I knew it. Even if she wasn’t a Chihuahua and cost a lot more than I got on the bench.
“The next day I called Claire at Silver Fox and asked for Pandi.
Knowing that the adoption food, transportation from Lancashire, and other necessities would cost at least £ 1,000, Alessandra set up a GoFundMe in hopes of soliciting funding from other dog lovers. It had the delightful title “Pennies for Pandi”.
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Even though Pandi had an operation to fuse her legs right before leaving China – meaning her hind legs are now partially posable – the cute puppy can’t walk for more than 10 minutes and needs a stroller and a set of wheels.
Alessandra used her bakery business to raise funds for Pennies for Pandi, including a cake sale.
She said, “I used it as a deposit platform for our customers who wanted to shop at our cake shop. Additionally, customers who commissioned a bespoke cake this week paid their bill to GoFundMe, not the store.
“I pulled 14-hour days. I was a cake zombie. “
(Image: Alessandra Estrada)
But it was all worth it for the end result. The campaign has achieved – and exceeded – its target with 21 donors to date and a total of £ 1,140.
Even better, the “pure white” bundle of joy has finally arrived at Alessandra’s, who got up on Wednesday at 5 am to pick her up.
She said, “I really want to thank you. I am grateful to everyone who helped me to come to Pandi, because I couldn’t have done it on my own.
“To Claire and everyone at Silver Fox for the tedious job of bringing dogs over from China; to all of my friends, customers and family who put their hands in their pockets and donated to help a dog in need; to all of my customers who bought baked goods at inflated prices and then added an extra ten “for pandi”.
“I am infinitely grateful that Pandi seems happy to be here with me.
“She would always be mine and anyone who took part knew I was in love with this disabled white dog and would do everything in my power to make her life better.”
However, the work that Pennies for Pandi has started is far from over.
Any funds raised beyond target will go to the same rescue organization waiting to bring more dogs to the UK but facing costly adoption and placement fees – an estimated £ 3,000 per puppy.
Alessandra said: “I would like to raise a lot more money for Silver Fox. Claire told me that I think they have 17 other dogs – one of which is Pandi’s daughter Trinket.
“I would be so happy to bring Trinket and place her with someone based in London so that Pandi can be reunited with her daughter.”
