A dog called Mercy: the rescue that changed everything

When Sarah Dunscombe-Berry first met Mercy, she had no idea how much that little dog would change her life. Mercy wasn’t Sarah’s first rescue dog, but she was her first from Ireland, and she turned out to be the dog who chose Sarah as much as Sarah chose her.

Mercy had been brought to a rescue in Ireland, at risk of euthanasia. From the moment Sarah met her, there was something different—a spark of resilience in Mercy’s eyes, a quiet determination to be loved. That connection transformed everything.

Mercy passed away three weeks ago. Her loss hit Sarah and her family hard. Mercy had been a constant companion and a part of the family for 13 years.

Even in grief, Mercy’s memory sparked a renewed determination. Sarah vowed to keep going, to rescue more dogs like Mercy and give them the love they deserved. “Rescue dogs aren’t broken,” she says. “They’re just waiting for someone to love them.”

That promise led Sarah to plan her first trip back to Ireland in over a decade—a rescue mission and an emotional pilgrimage rolled into one. She will be travelling to Animal Haven Ireland next week, the place where she first met Mercy.

This time, she will be bringing back Wonder, a blind lurcher rescued from a tragic situation, and another Collie-cross like Mercy.

For Sarah, this trip is more than just another rescue. It is a way to honour Mercy’s memory.