The pet I’ll never forget: Clement was hit by a car and left to die in a ditch – then found his beautiful purpose

In December 2024, my kerry blue terrier, Magnus, died suddenly from a stroke at the age of nine. Devastated, I started looking at rescue dogs on Facebook and came across Clement, who was being looked after by a shelter in Romania. It wasn’t his appearance that caught my attention, but his heartbreaking story.

An eight-year-old mixed-breed rescue, Clement had spent most of his life with a woman living with Alzheimer’s. One day, she accidentally let him out. He was hit by a car, attacked by two large dogs and left in a ditch for three days in the snow before being rescued by chance. When I read this, I knew I had to take him in.

On 11 June 2025, exactly six months after Magnus died, Clement arrived on what I called the “happy bus” from Romania. He was small, with long black fur, a greying beard, and pointy ears that stood to attention. With a gentle and calm demeanour, Clement was the perfect fit alongside our three other dogs. He settled into our family straight away.

Despite the difficult time he’d had, Clement loved being around people and other dogs. His gentle nature made me think he would make a fantastic therapy dog, particularly with elderly people. After six months with us, I decided to register him. Passing his therapy dog assessments, Clement soon began working with Ashfields care home in Norwich.

They had been looking for a therapy dog for years and Clement instantly enriched the lives of those within the home, just as he had ours. Walking around the communal spaces, you can see that spending time with him brings the elderly residents comfort and gets them talking about their own former pets.

Due to his experience in Romania, Clement came to us with limited motion. Although it doesn’t stop him getting around, I bring a stool with me to help him climb up and sit beside people. Often, he will sit for a minute or two before moving on – but on our last visit he sat with a woman, who had been quite upset all day, for five minutes without moving. It was as though he knew she needed him.

Not only has Clement brought joy to those in Ashfields care home, but he has taught me a lot in life. He has shown me that no matter your circumstances, we each have something to give to this world. No, he might not win dog shows, but that’s not his purpose. His gift is giving affection and companionship to people who need it most, and he does it beautifully.