A WIRRAL couple who rehomed an abandoned puppy found in terrible conditions will take part in the London Landmarks half marathon for the RSPCA this Sunday.
Biscuit was discovered by Mike Lupson's wife Lisa, an RSPCA inspector, in October last year in a wooden kennel - clutching onto her dead sisters - in a quiet lane in Runcorn, Cheshire, on the night of October 9 last year.
The Spaniel-terrier cross was suffering from mange and completely bald. In fact, she was so bald no one had any idea what kind of breed she was.
Lisa made an instant connection with Biscuit, who is now part of the family's Wirral home now, living with Mike and Lisa, their children Olivia, six, and Thomas, eight, and menagerie of rescue pets including Tilly the labrador, Poppy the cat and Hagrid the hamster.
Being married to an RSPCA inspector means Mike understands the challenges of the job but it wasn't until this skinny, bald and abandoned puppy came into their lives that it really hit home.
Mike said: "I was a police officer previously so I was always aware of how hard the job is and the risks RSPCA officers go through but when Lisa went to the case of Biscuit and came back to tell me what she had found there - I was shocked.
"I couldn't deal with it.
"It's just so hard to get your head around how anyone could do that. I just think it's amazing all the work that the RSPCA do."
Lisa said: "Even though this poor dog had been through so much suffering, she managed to wag her tail when I showed her some kindness - from that moment I knew a bond had formed.
"She was absolutely terrified and shaking, which is unsurprising considering what she had been through, so I was stroking her trying to reassure her.
After discovering Biscuit, Lisa made regular visits to the hospital to check on the pup's progress. It was inevitable Biscuit would be coming home with them.
Mike said: "Even with all Lisa's experience as an inspector, seeing Biscuit in this state was still a shock to her.
"I've never known her to get upset about her job - when you deal with these horrible things day in and day out you learn to cope with things in your own way - but she was upset about Biscuit.
"They really connected so she was always going to come home with us.
"Biscuit has completely changed over the last few months.
"For a start, we now know she's a Spaniel-terrier cross and all her fur has grown back.
"She was a little wary of me at first and a lot calmer with Lisa and the kids, so we thought perhaps whoever was responsible for her abuse was a man but over time, she has learnt to trust me and will now sleep on our bed.
Mike will be taking on the half marathon challenge this month alongside his wife Lisa although having two children means they have to take training in turns.
London Landmarks will be held on Sunday, March 24 starting in Pall Mall and finishing in Downing Street with a fantastic route of iconic London landmarks along the way.
The runners will be able to pound the pavement on the streets where the RSPCA first began - almost 200 years ago!
To help support Mike and his challenge, sponsor him at his Just Giving page.
The person who abandoned Biscuit and her siblings has not yet been traced.
The RSPCA made another appeal for information last week (Wednesday 6 March) on BBC's Crimewatch Roadshow.
If you have any information, or saw anything suspicious on Tuesday, October 9 between 6pm and 7pm on a path running off Grange Road and Grange Road North in Runcorn call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.