Poor Sollie was covered in fleas and the stench of urine when she was surrendered to our Lonsdale Shelter in March 2018.
At only one-and-a-half years old, the timid little lady had already experienced so much pain.
Our vets soon discovered that Sollie had a birth malformation, meaning she had no control over her bladder. The beautiful golden retriever was facing a lifetime of urinary and skin infections.
But it wasn't the end for Sollie - not even close.
Life-changing surgery to free Sollie from pain
You may remember this gorgeous girl from an RSPCA Animal Emergency Fund in 2018.
With the help of our amazing supporters, Sollie was able to undergo life-changing surgery to assist her bladder. After this surgery, she could then receive ongoing medication that meant she could live out her days pain free.
She was ready for a new start, and would soon become an absolute ray of sunshine for someone who needed her.
Beautiful Sollie immediately catches the eye of long-time dog rescuer
After losing her Irish wolfhound to old age, Judith was devastated. She was on the lookout for another canine companion to join her and her little Maltese cross Ellie, but only someone truly special could fill that role.
Living locally to our Lonsdale shelter, Judith has adopted animals from RSPCA for the past 16 years.
"The Lonsdale staff got to know me quite well," Judith laughs.
"I remember looking on the RSPCA website one morning and I saw Sollie.
"I jumped in my car straight away, drove to the shelter and waited for it to open. I put Sollie on hold and took her home immediately, and I've never looked back," Judith says.
Bright like the sun, Sollie is an 'absolute delight' who loves to spend her days outside
Sollie is Judith's fifth Golden Retriever - but she's not quite like the others.
While Judith admits that Sollie is a little more jealous than other Golden Retrievers, she is still an 'absolute delight' who is truly deserving of her nickname.
"She is my little ray of sunshine. I call her Sol for short, which means sun in Spanish," Judith says.
"She is the reason why I get up in the morning."
And this canine ray of sunshine seems to love the sun too - she spends her days walking along the beach and splashing in the water, soaking up the sun outside every chance she gets.
The affectionate pooch also follows her fur-mum around the house like a shadow on the daily!
"Everyone loves Sollie, she has such an energy about her and perks everyone up," Judith says.
Sollie has made a great recovery since her operation and lives an amazing life, only requiring medication once a week. With her remarkable story, Sollie even went on to become our Million Paws Walk Hero in 2020!
But her transformation is all thanks to our wonderful supporters and donors for giving Sollie another chance - thank you.
We're so glad Sollie and Judith have made such a beautiful bond. If you're considering opening your heart and home to a rescued animal, head over here to see all our animals currently available for adoption.
