From a disaster to a Happily Ever After

Today Pops is one of Instagram’s most popular dog models. She’s been gifted items from Hugo Boss and Burberry and have worked with many global brands including Disney, Sony Pictures, ZooPLus, Warner Brothers, Amazon, SSense, E.L.F, TikTok, Baby Milo, Sky Mobile, Spotify, Pokémon and heaps more! But, what’s less known is that Pops is a real rags to riches story, who went from a disaster to a Happily Ever After. For this issue, we sat down with Pops' mamager, Charlie, to learn more about her rescue story.

How did Pops come into your life?

Pops was an accidental rescue. I was lead to believe from an online ad that I was rehoming a family dog due to a divorce, but when I arrived I quickly realised it was actually an illegal puppy farm. As I went to leave I noticed a little dachshund whimpering inside a reptile tank and knew she needed help fast. I offered the absolute monster of a man running things £400 and he let me take Pops. I immediately took her to the vet and came to realize she was very sick. She was beaten, malnourished,  burned with cigarettes, had teeth missing, infected paws, mites, ear infections and a large wound on her stomach from a back street spay. My vet said she was failing to thrive and was unlikely to survive, but we went ahead with all the procedures and meds and slowly but surely, Pops started to blossom! It’s taken many years to build her confidence and teach her that not all humans are bad, but she was worth it all! The puppy mill was closed down and they were prosecuted, but Pops will carry emotional and physical scars with her forever. She’s been my whole heart since the moment I laid eyes on her and we are utterly obsessed with each other! She rescued me just as much as I rescued her.

Is Pop your first pup?

I got Pops on my own. Although I grew up surrounded by dogs, she was the first animal I’d ever been completely responsible for. We lived together in London, just us two girls and had a wonderful time. She would come to work with me and I’d cycle around with her in my bike basket, it was bliss!