A WOMAN who took on a feral Romanian dog traumatised by human cruelty will be at Waterstones next weekend signing copies of her book on the remarkable story.

Sarah Napier fought to take care of the dog, Ursu, who had suffered years of abuse, in 2014, eventually getting permission to bring the dog home, after spotting him on the website of charity Monica's Romanian Rescue.

She said when he first arrived he was “terrified and would bite”, but the day after he put his head on her lap, and after months and years of training and care he is now “the most affectionate of dogs and exuberantly happy”.

She said her story shows there is no such thing as a bad dog, and shows the impact human care can have on a dog’s life.

Mrs Napier said: "There was no way my husband and I could take him to dog training.

"He arrived biting, bucking and terrified and hadn’t walked as such for up to four years. He wouldn’t take a collar or a lead. He was terrified of just about everything. We were beginning way back from the usual start line.

“The morning after we got him, which had been a very traumatic day for all three of us, Ursu took the decision to come up to me and sit down in front of me and put his head on my lap.

"After years of shunning all human contact his behaviour was extraordinary. He was still terrified and feral and inclined to try and bite and it was a long haul to get him to where he is now, but his canine intelligence told him he was somewhere very different and that he should take a chance on us.

"He is now the most affectionate of dogs and exuberantly happy.

“If Ursu and I can do it then anyone with the patience and motivation to help these wretched dogs can do so too.

"The charity said he was one of the most damaged dogs they have ever seen. But it isn’t rocket science.

"Have love in your heart and think like a dog and not as a human and with patience a dog will turn itself around.

"Ursu has developed into a wonderful dog and deserves every second of the wonderful life he now lives. Visitors to the book signing can see for themselves his radical transformation.”

Mrs Napier will be signing copies of her book, Ursu - Never Give up on a Dog, at Waterstones, in the Wool Exchange, from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, November 10.