Abandoned Puppy Left to Die in Laundry Basket on Roadside Makes Finals of U.K.’s Most Prestigious Dog Show

Mar. 15, 2025

Emily Washington with her dog Tilly.Photo:Crufts/Youtube

Crufts/Youtube

A puppy who was abandoned on a roundabout is now a finalist at an international dog show.

Tilly is now up for an award at Crufts, an international dog show held every year in the U.K., and is vying to win ‘The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award’ after being recognized for the positive impact she has made while working in prisons and schools.

Now also training as a service dog, Tilly will compete for the award against four other finalists in March.

The winner will be “crowned as the UK’s most heroic dog at Crufts on Sunday 9 March," according to the Cruftswebsite. Known as “The World’s Greatest Dog Show,” Crufts was formed in 1891 and takes place over four days.

Tilly and her owner Emily Washington.Beat Media/The Kennel Club

Beat Media/The Kennel Club

“She’s such a joyful little soul,” Washington told the BBC. “She passed her Pets in Therapy temperament assessment at just 9 months old, which is the youngest you can do it, because she’s just got a really special something about her.”

According to the outlet, Tilly was also awarded the silver and bronze Good Citizen award and is also a Barn Hunt champion.

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Barn Hunt is a sport that enables dogs to use their natural instincts “to find hidden tubes," per theBarn Hunt website,

Tilly has also been learning how to detect her owner’s migraines up to 48 hours before they occur, ensuring Washington can take her medication in advance, according to the BBC.

“It’s great that the Kennel Club are doing this, recognizing what rescue dogs can do for people, how far they can come and that rescue is best,” Washington told the outlet.

She added, “I mean who’s rescued who? That’s what I always say, because it feels like she’s saved me as much as I saved her.”

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Sharing the BBC article on theirFacebook page, Hope Rescue expressed their excitement for Tilly.

“One of our New Hope dogs that we hand reared from a little pup with her brothers and sisters. Very proud. Well done Tilly and Emily!,” they wrote.

People can vote for Tilly on the Crufts’website.

source: people.com