A woman has heartwarmingly adopted a rescue dog with terminal cancer and vows to "give her as much love as possible for as long as she has left". Sian Spibey, 29, from Nottinghamshire, says "fate" brought them together, after her identical pet pooch - with the same name, age and breed - suddenly died.
In May this year, Sian spotted a Mirror article advertising a gorgeous homeless dog who was desperate for a permanent family. Incredibly, the pooch was a six-year-old Dogue de Bordeaux called Remi - exactly like her own pet. Sian fell in love with her instantly, but knew the two dogs wouldn't be able to live together.
Then just a few months later, Sian's dog Remi tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack on the living room floor.
Not wanting the dog-shaped hole in her heart and home to go to waste, Sian reached out to Helping Yorkshire Poundies to adopt Remi.
Sian told the Mirror : "It felt like a twist of fate, as if my Remi was telling me to save her."
After speaking with her partner, Stuart Moran, 39, and their young daughter, Oviya, five, the family decided to take Remi home.
Sadly, the poorly pooch had been diagnosed with skin cancer and low-grade lymphoma, which wasn't treatable.
But grieving Sian was prepared to take her on, knowing it could mean going through another huge loss again soon.
"It didn't put us off and we decided to bring her into our home, hearts and family," Sian said.
"She's such a special girl and has settled in so well."
Despite living with terminal lymphoma, Remi doesn't have symptoms and steroids help to keep her lymph nodes down.
"She can't have treatment because of her melanoma," Sian explained.
"She seems to be fine but we need to keep an eye on her breathing, as that will be the first sign."
Remi was originally advertised as a dog with an "extra long tongue that always sticks out" - and Sian says it's still hanging out now.
"Her long tongue sticks out constantly, even when she's eating it hangs out to the side," she chuckled.
She describes Remi as a gentle and happy dog who loves sleeping and snuggling up on the sofa.
"Every time I walk past her, I tell her I love her," Sian said.
"It feels like an honour to have her with us and give her a safe and warm home for the rest of her life."
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
