Can you capture Fleur?

Dogs Today is launching an art challenge. I have chosen a subject very close to my heart and I hope yours, too!

Fleur.

This was the dog that made me think about how dogs are the same the world over, that each one is precious. That they don't know about politics, religion or borders. Dogs are born with an ability to love humans unconditionally, it's their super power. We take it for granted all the time.

So when you hear about a dog in peril, anywhere in the world our heart strings are pulled.

Some will say, help those at home before we help those far away.

And then I remember Father Ted and the scene with the cows. They only look smaller because of perspective.

Fleur's photos on Facebook were arresting. Never had I seen a dog more depressed, more broken.

In Romania there was a bounty paid for rounding up strays and neutering them. But it was being done by butchers who had cut into Fleur and sewn her back up with string. Her insides were on the outside.

Val from Valgrays had spotted her sad face and had decided she couldn't keep scrolling.

Fleur was moved to a better place but she had caught distemper - so her fragile hold on life was getting weaker.

Wendy and Andrew were lined up as safe hands should she survive. Wendy was a nurse, Andrew had been a soldier and had paramedic skills, too.

Fleur would not be here today if Val hadn't allowed her heart to rule her head and these two forces of nature hadn't taken on the challenge.

Fleur didn't die, she got over distemper and she was patched up and it was a young happy dog that Wendy and Andrew introduced to being a beloved pet.

It was all just perfect, until Fleur suddenly became gravely ill.

The local vet did his best, but this was way beyond his surgical abilities. To be honest, there wasn't anyone in the world who had succeeded in the surgery Fleur now needed to save her life once again.

I remember where I was when I got the call from Val. I was waiting at school for the kids to come out and Val wanted to run something past me.

Was she doing the right thing?

Fleur had less than a 1% chance of survival, but by chance the best surgeons in the world were not too far away at the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar.

Her intestines had been outside of her body for too long and they were dying and rotting inside her. The operation needed would not be cheap. But Fleur was young and she'd only just started to live a life of love.

I said tell the world what you are doing, see if they agree and ask them to help. Trust your instinct.

You can't change the world for every dog - but that doesn't mean you can't change it for one dog.

Within a day I think the public raised the money but we all knew that would be the case. As soon as a possible lifeline was found Wendy and Fleur were en route to Potters Bar and the social media world were cheering them on. So much so that at RVC people came out to meet them, everyone knew Fleur was coming.

Those amazing surgeons operated all night and Fleur's life was saved.

She has challenges, she needs extra vitamins as her intestines became shorter. But her life has been rich and rewarding and she has shared her love with others as a Pat Dog. Her inspiration to particularly children and their parents facing similar scary surgeries is huge.

Fleur is the poster girl for every dog being precious. How a dog can still love and trust people despite outrageous despicable cruelty is inspirational.

She's been our cover girl twice already. She is a work of art.

If you would like to be inspired by Fleur and enter our Dogs Today's Dog Portrait Artist of the Year, please get in touch.

We'd love professionals and amateurs to take part - any genre.

And if you'd like to nominate the next dog to be a sitter, please do.

Any one interested in sponsoring? Be lovely to have some cards made of the winning entries that maybe can raise funds for Valgrays?

If you want to enter here are some photos of Fleur that may inspire you...

A lot of these are by Rob MojoelMundo King for whom Fleur has been a muse. I have not included the shot of Fleur with her intestines outside her body - but I did see it again today looking for these.

The subject this time is Fleur. The deadline for this competition will be September 30th, although any entries before that would be very welcome!

A high quality photo of the artwork would be needed suitable for publication both online and in print. When we ran the competition in the past some people delivered artwork to the magazine office. Most people have good cameras on their phones now so - hopefully this will be easier!

If anyone wanting to send large files can email first or use wetransfer or dropbox links. Email [email protected]

Use "Fleur" in the subject line so we don't miss you!

Photos in UK by MojoelMundo - Rob King