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Helping the drug addict who stole my dog to get into rehab

Brayden Morton was devastated when his beloved dog was stolen. He found the thief - a drug-addicted young woman - but instead of pressing charges he’s supporting her through rehab.

Canadian Brayden Morton was devastated when his beloved dog Darla was stolen from him. He ended up tracking her down but when he encountered the thief, he saw a distressed young homeless woman with a serious drug addiction and his own past was brought back to him in an unexpected and painful way. Brayden is himself a recovering addict with a troubled history including serving time in prison. He’s now a drugs interventionist and decided not to press charges against the young woman and instead help her through rehab.

Growing up in Singapore, May Ooi wanted to practise martial arts but was told by her parents that ‘girls don’t fight’ and she wasn't allowed. So, instead, May went on to excel at swimming, even competing at the Barcelona Olympics. But her yearning for combat sports never died and after she fell in love with a martial arts teacher, she would become one of the country’s top fighters. This interview was first broadcast in 2019.

Picture: Brayden Morton with Darla
Credit: Courtesy Brayden Morton

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41 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Aug 2021 02:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 2 Aug 2021 11:06GMT
  • Mon 2 Aug 2021 17:06GMT
  • Tue 3 Aug 2021 02:06GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected