In Loving Memory of Ludo
Ludo was my beautiful Staffordshire Bull Terrier — A brave little goblin — and the heart behind Sarah Wadley Creations.
At just 8 months old, Ludo became seriously ill after sniffing contaminated soil, the vet said it was so rare that he would never see it again in his lifetime and we would never know where he got it. What the local vet initially thought was kennel cough turned out to be something far more serious.
My suspicion was that when the high street vet gave him steroids at 8 months old, his immune system was ruined which led to him contracting this bacteria — a rare and dangerous bacteria called Nocardia, contracted from soil contaminated with animal faeces. It can come from something as small as a mouse, completely invisible to the eye. No one could have known.
We were rushed to The Willows Specialist Referral Centre in Solihull, where we discovered the bacteria had caused infected fluid to fill his chest and lungs, along with abscesses both inside and out. He was dying.
What followed was one of the most terrifying and heartbreaking experiences of our lives. Ludo was placed in the ICU, where the incredible Dr Will and his team performed emergency surgery — removing half of Ludo’s lung to save his life. He was just a baby. But he fought with everything he had. Sitting there watching him fight to live was a whole experience, it made my heart ache, but it also made me a better person.
Against all odds, he made it through surgery. 🐾
I cannot thank the ICU staff and the surgical team enough, especially Caitlin and Susan. Ludo was the most lovely boy and I had planned a life with him, but I am glad that others got to see how special he was. He was a warrior who fought to be with me.
The road to recovery was long and uncertain. Only 12 dogs in approximately 50 years had ever survived and that was caught early, ours wasn’t. Nocardia is a slow-growing, slow-treating bacteria, and only two antibiotics in the world are effective against it. We pursued every option, exhausting two pet insurance policies and everything we had — because Ludo was worth it. Because he was family.
For a while, we truly believed we were winning. But the bacteria had other plans. It migrated with a vengeance to his remaining lung and chest cavity. Within 48 hours of his chest filling with fluid again, we lost him.
I am forever blessed to have been Ludo’s mommy and to have had such love from him. He knew that I gave everything I had and so did my family. Dr Will said to me one day, “I’ve never seen a dog fight so hard to live.”
I got 10 months of time with him where he was a normal staffy boy.
Ludo was just 2 years old. Losing him was like losing a child and I want to keep his memory alive and also acknowledge the grief that comes with pet loss.
Our last morning together — 16th November 2025
Run free, little goblin. You were the bravest boy we ever knew.
You were my first hello and my hardest goodbye. Mommy loves you always. 🐾
Why We Give Back
Sarah Wadley Creations was built in Ludo’s memory. With every purchase you make, a donation goes to local animal charities — because animals give us everything, and they deserve every chance at life that we can give them.
Thank you for shopping with us, and for being part of Ludo’s legacy. 🐾