Publisher Description

Late one night, as she checks on the animals in her care before bed, the peaceful silence surrounding Barby Keel's animal sanctuary is shattered by the sound of a van screeching into the driveway before roaring off into the distance. Hurrying to the front of the sanctuary, Barby is horrified by the sight that greets her. In her many years caring for neglected and mistreated animals, Barby has seen the worst of what people can do to the creatures in their care, but the sight of the dog in front of her shocks her to her core. As her torch beam sweeps the trembling body of the greyhound that has been dumped on her doorstep, she can see every rib and every bone through the patches of matted hair. Badly beaten, it's clear that the dog is only hours from death. A year into her second cancer diagnosis, Barby puts all thoughts of her own health aside as she throws herself into caring for the greyhound, who she names Bailey. Can Barby save Bailey's life? And who will care for the animals at the sanctuary if Barby doesn't survive her second cancer diagnosis?

Author Biography

Barby Keele has run an animal sanctuary in the countryside in Sussex for 54 years. At the age of 28 Barby bought four acres of land for 1400, built her own home brick by brick, and then dedicated her life to caring for the animals who were often dumped at her door. Barby is working with Cathryn Kemp, Sunday Times bestselling writer, award-winning author and a former journalist. She has written across the spectrum of the British press, both tabloid and broadsheet, and online, and for many magazines. In 2002 she won the Peter Wilson Award for Journalism before running her own press agency writing for radio and television. She is the author of COMING CLEAN: DIARY OF A PAINKILLER ADDIT, published by Piatkus in 2012, which won the Big Red Read Prize for non-fiction in 2013. Cathryn has written seven other titles, including JAM BUTTIES AND A PAN OF SCOUSE, WE AIN'T GO NO DRINK, PA and A FISH SUPPER AND A CHIPPY SMILE.

Long Description

Late one night, as she checks on the animals in her care before bed, the peaceful silence surrounding Barby Keel's animal sanctuary is shattered by the sound of a van screeching into the driveway before roaring off into the distance. Hurrying to the front of the sanctuary, Barby is horrified by the sight that greets her. In her many years caring for neglected and mistreated animals, Barby has seen the worst of what people can do to the creatures in their care, but the sight of the dog in front of her shocks her to her core. As her torch beam sweeps the trembling body of the greyhound that has been dumped on her doorstep, she can see every rib and every bone through the patches of matted hair. Badly beaten, it's clear that the dog is only hours from death. A year into her second cancer diagnosis, Barby puts all thoughts of her own health aside as she throws herself into caring for the greyhound, who she names Bailey. Can Barby save Bailey's life? And who will care for the animals at the sanctuary if Barby doesn't survive her second cancer diagnosis?

Promotional "Headline"

A starved and neglected dog on the brink of death, and the love and kindness of the woman who gave him the chance of a new life.

Details