WHEN Kay Pendlebury started looking round for a new dog, little did she know that her search would take her 1,400 miles away to Romania.

The Lostock gran, 67, wanted a German Shepherd, but she couldn’t find one with the right temperament for her and her husband David, 61.

But when she learned about the plight of five-year-old Lara from Romania, Kay knew she had to have her.

“It was big decision bringing a dog from abroad and at one stage we did question whether we were doing the right thing – but Lara is everything we could have wished for,” said Kay.

Kay and David were looking for a new pet following the death of their beloved Zac last November.

Zac, a rescued German Shepherd, lost the use of his back legs because of a degenerative disease so the couple had him fitted with special wheels.

Kay, who works in Tesco, said: “We had nursed and cared for Zac so much and were heartbroken when he died. We wanted another German Shepherd but it had to be the right one.

“The dogs that we had seen at rescue centres weren’t quite right for us – we wanted one that had a quiet nature and was good with children as I have three grandchildren, but they didn’t quite fit the bill.

“Then my daughter Nicola told us her friend had got a rescue dog from Romania.”

Kay and David found a Romanian rescue centre on Facebook and read about how Lara had been tied up outside her owner’s home for five years but escaped and was found half starved. She was taken to a compound where she would have been put to sleep but Florina Stefanovici, who runs a rescue centre, took her in.

“I saw pictures of Lara and watched a video of her and when I expressed an interest I was inundated with messages from people saying that Lara was beautiful and they’d followed her story and they urged us to take her,” said Kay.

“Last Sunday we set off for Derby where we’d been told to meet the rescue centre’s English co-ordinator.

“There was a van with ‘Second Chance Rescue Travel 4 Paws’ on the side and the drivers had a few dogs that they had transported from Transylvania to Bucharest to here.

“Lara jumped out and was so excited. I fell in love with her straight away. We got her home and after running round the house for a few minutes she was fast asleep on the living room rug.

“She’s so quiet and gentle and she’s just beautiful. I would only have German Shepherds as they are so intelligent and loyal.”

During her time in the Romanian rescue centre Lara had been spayed and chipped thanks to an English sponsor who Kay has been in touch with as well as the co-ordinator who helps organise bringing rescue dogs to new homes in the UK.

“Everyone involved has been so professional and supportive and reassured us that if it didn’t work out with Lara they would be there for us,” said Kay.

“I can’t say whether it’s always successful getting a dog from another country like this but it’s been wonderful for us and I couldn’t be happier. Lara is perfect.”