After a filming day in London, Ant spotted a muddy, limping dog outside ITV Studios. What followed was a £120,000 vet bill, a custom wheelchair, and a new animal rescue foundation launched in the dog’s name. But the real twist? The dog’s microchip revealed something that even shocked Dec…👇🐶💔
The Dog Called Hope
In the heart of London’s South Bank, where the hum of traffic mingled with the glow of ITV Studios, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were wrapping a long day of filming Britain’s Got Talent in March 2025. At 49, the Geordie duo were TV icons, their laughter and warmth a staple for millions. As they stepped outside into the chilly evening, Ant noticed a muddy, limping dog curled up near a studio bin. Its fur was matted, one hind leg dragging, and its eyes held a quiet plea. While Dec chatted with crew, Ant knelt beside the dog, offering a gentle hand. “Alright, mate, what’s your story?” he murmured. That moment sparked a chain of events no one saw coming.
The dog, a scruffy terrier mix, shivered as Ant carefully scooped it up. Dec, noticing, joined him, his usual grin fading. “Poor thing’s in a state,” he said. They rushed the dog to a 24-hour vet clinic, where scans revealed a fractured pelvis, severe malnutrition, and an infected wound. The vet’s estimate for treatment—surgery, rehab, and ongoing care—was £120,000. Without hesitation, Ant pulled out his card. “Do whatever it takes,” he said. Dec nodded, already calling their assistant to clear their schedules.
Over the next week, Ant and Dec took turns visiting the clinic, naming the dog Hope for its stubborn will to survive. They funded a custom wheelchair to support Hope’s mobility, ensuring she could move without pain. But the real twist came when the vet scanned Hope’s microchip. It revealed she’d been missing for three years, belonging to a family in Croydon who’d lost her during a house fire. The family, the Thompsons, had assumed Hope died in the blaze that claimed their home and savings. The revelation shocked Dec, who’d expected a stray with no history. “She’s got a family out there,” he said, voice thick. “We’ve got to find them.”
Ant and Dec tracked down the Thompsons, a single mum, Sarah, and her two kids, who were living in a cramped flat, still rebuilding their lives. They invited them to the clinic, keeping their identities quiet to avoid a media frenzy. When Sarah saw Hope, now clean and wagging her tail in her wheelchair, she collapsed in tears, her kids clinging to the dog they thought they’d lost forever. Ant and Dec stood back, letting the reunion unfold. Sarah explained how Hope had been their anchor before the fire, and how losing her had broken their hearts.
But Ant and Dec didn’t stop at reuniting Hope with her family. Inspired by her resilience, they launched the “Hope’s Haven Animal Rescue Foundation” with a £500,000 personal donation. The foundation, named after Hope, focused on rescuing injured strays, funding vet care, and building shelters across London. They rented a facility in Croydon, equipping it with rehab spaces, adoption rooms, and training for foster families. To ensure Hope’s legacy, they designed a program to cover medical costs for pets of low-income families, so no one else would lose a companion to hardship.
The foundation’s launch was set for May 2025, and Ant and Dec invited the Thompsons to cut the ribbon. Hope, now bounding in her wheelchair, was the star, her story shared in a small speech by Sarah. “This dog brought us back together,” she said, glancing at Ant and Dec. “And they made it happen.” The event was meant to be low-key, but a volunteer posted a photo on X of Hope with Ant and Dec, captioning it, “They spent £120,000 to save a stray—and found her family.” The post went viral, with #HopesHaven trending as fans shared the story. “Ant & Dec didn’t just save a dog,” one user wrote. “They gave a family hope.” Another said, “That microchip twist? I’m in tears.”
Reporters were floored, not just by the £120,000 vet bill or the foundation, but by the microchip’s revelation—a dog lost in tragedy, found by chance. At a press event for Saturday Night Takeaway, Ant brushed off the praise. “Hope’s the hero,” he said, scratching her ears. Dec added, “We just saw a dog who needed help. The real story’s her family.” But the impact was undeniable. By autumn 2025, Hope’s Haven had rescued 200 animals, funded surgeries for 50 pets, and placed 80 strays in homes. Sarah and her kids volunteered, with Hope greeting every visitor, her wheelchair a symbol of second chances.
The Thompsons sent Ant and Dec a photo of Hope curled up with their kids, along with a note: “You didn’t just save her—you saved us.” They kept it in their studio, next to a tiny collar with Hope’s name. They visited the shelter when they could, playing with the dogs and joking with volunteers, always deferring to Hope’s legacy. The foundation raised £200,000 in public donations, inspired by the story, and shelters nationwide adopted its model.
In London, Hope’s Haven became a beacon for strays and families alike. And as Ant and Dec returned to their TV world, they carried the memory of a muddy dog who showed them that even a chance encounter could spark a movement. At their next filming, they wore lapel pins shaped like a paw with an “H,” a nod to Hope. The crew cheered, knowing the story. Somewhere in Croydon, a dog wheeled through a park, her family by her side, proof that kindness could find a home in the unlikeliest places.
