Beyond the Iconic Photo: The Heartwarming Journey of Izzy
Many of you will recognise Izzy, our beautiful Border Collie ambassador, from our iconic Drench Jacket photograph. But behind that picture is a story of incredible resilience, love, and hope that we just had to share.
Rescued at just two years old after a difficult start in life, Izzy faced enormous challenges — from fear and anxiety to a rare congenital brain condition. Yet, with patience, care, and unwavering love from her owner Alexandra & family, she has defied the odds. Today, at seven years old, Izzy thrives: she sleeps through the night, enjoys running in the fells, and even joins fell runner Alexandra in races.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that with determination, compassion, and a little love, dogs, and humans alike can overcome adversity and flourish.
Alexandra is going to share Izzy’s story in her own words:
"When Izzy first came home, she showed behaviours typical of a dog who had been stressed in an outdoor kennel environment for a long time. She circled constantly and was terrified of the world around her. My husband and I struggled immensely with house training and helping her sleep through the night. We tried everything, but it was impossible - she would run in circles around the kitchen all night, never sleep, and suffer from an upset stomach caused by stress.
Over the following months, her behaviour deteriorated further, and she gradually became more aggressive. Then in December 2021, about eight months after we took her in, she had her first grand mal seizure. A week later, she had another. We took her for an MRI scan and to see a neurologist.
The diagnosis was devastating: Izzy had a very rare congenital brain condition called porencephaly. This means she has a large cavity in her brain that was never formed and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Her optic nerves are also underdeveloped, leaving her with limited vision — she can only see shapes and shadows. Symptoms of the condition include seizures, ataxia, nerve pain, motor delays, and both physical and cognitive impairments.
Despite the poor prognosis, we committed to giving Izzy the best life possible. With the incredible support of an independent vet who went above and beyond, often thinking outside the box - we worked to stabilise her symptoms with medication. In April 2022 we had a breakthrough: Izzy became house trained, started sleeping through the night in our bedroom, and by the end of that month we had moved to the Lake District, four hours from our hometown. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, defying all odds.
Izzy still requires a lot of management and has her quirks, but the progress she’s made is incredible. She now joins me running in the fells and has even completed races by my side. We’re also fortunate to have another fantastic local vet who continues to help us manage her condition.
We don’t know what the future holds, but for now we’re letting Izzy live life to the fullest - doing the things she enjoys, while we do our very best for her."
You can follow fell runner Alexandra and her dogs @Alexandraduncombe
