There are thousands of gorgeous dogs that need a forever home. So, if you’re looking to buy a new puppy, why not consider rehoming a dog instead?

When you adopt, not only do you save your new companion, but you also make space for other animals who desperately need it, creating a domino effect of goodness. Our kennels have been running at capacity for as long as we can remember and we cannot help more dogs in need unless the current residents find loving new homes.

Many of our dogs have been rescued straight from the streets of North Macedonia after being abandoned by their owners and sometimes we rescue whole litters of young puppies and their mothers. There are many reasons why dogs end up in our animal shelter and often it’s about the owner’s personal circumstances, rather than the dog’s fault. Moving house, changing jobs, divorce, a new baby or not being able to afford the cost can all make dog-ownership challenging, and many dogs become homeless through no fault of their own. This means that there’s more choice than you might expect, including various sizes, as well as puppies and adult dogs.

Most rescue dogs have a back story and this can affect their initial behaviour when arriving in a new home. Some rescue dogs, may have behaviour problems due to the harsh conditions they endured on the streets but these issues can be addressed with consistent training and patience. Reactivity towards other dogs and people, for example, are two of the most common behavioural issues we encounter but they can be successfully worked on with a behaviourist’s help.

Rose (now Jessie) had a rough start when she came over to the UK and was put in emergency foster at the risk of being put down. She was reactive to other dogs which made it hard to rehome her but her current family took a chance on her.

“As soon as we saw her pictures and spoke to her foster mum we knew we had to have her as we hoped we could help her overcome this as we had no other dogs. Jessie is our first dog and we have no experience with reactive dogs so we are working with a behaviourist to help her overcome her it. In just a few short weeks she has improved so much. She is just a misunderstood girl who needs a slow introduction to other dogs and then they become her best friends. My parents dog Tilly is 15, deaf and half blind and she uses Jessie as her guide dog on walks. She understands she is old and she is so respectful around her. Tilly even kicks her off the sofa and steels her toys and bones. She is a little sun worshipper and will spend her entire day outside when she can but loves a cuddle on the sofa on an evening. She absolutely adores people and kids. She is obsessed with saying hello to every child playing on the street when she is on her walks.

 

Don’t get me wrong, every day has not been easy but she has turned into such a confident and loyal girl. Every milestone is so rewarding and we can not imagine our life without out her.”

And remember, by adopting you are giving the dog a safe and loving home in which it can learn to be a happy and healthy dog again.