'She is part of the family already': New owners speak of their first Christmas with rescue dogs

The branch, on Longridge Road, can boast three heartwarming success stories of mans best friends who spent this Christmas with their new families, at the end of what has been a difficult year for the charity.

But they also warn families to reconsider getting their pets so soon before Christmas, at a time that is normally hectic and unsettling.

For Labrador Honey, she had been left in a home with two other dogs who had died and had developed a serious skin condition; left emaciated due to going such a long time without a meal.

Now, alongside new owner Sarah Ward, she is moving on from her traumatic past in her new home.

Retired NHS worker Sarah said: "After I retired a year ago, I knew I had wanted to get a dog. Although I haven't had a family dog in 30 years, I have had four labradors and have grown up with dogs.

"She is such a beautiful dog and have only had her for four weeks but can already walk her off the lead. She is extremely loyal and follows me everywhere. She is part of the family already.

"I almost can't imagine life without her now. It has been a quick experience but I was just looking forward to giving her a home and making her feel loved."

Sarah takes Honey on three walks a day after completing the quick, remote process of adopting a rescue from Preston's RSPCA centre.

After first submitting her application, Honey was settled in her new home just four short days after, having never actually met her new owners.

Georgina Meek, Animal Supervisor at RSPCA Preston said: "Every year it is a worry for us that people look at getting an animal as a gift for Christmas, and particularly on the run-up to Christmas we do see an increase in the number of calls from families who are looking for a puppy or a kitten.

"As a branch, we suspend the rehoming of all animals from a week before Christmas until the start of the new year not only to discourage the giving of animals as gifts, which are not something we agree with but also we feel that Christmas is the worst time of year to introduce an animal to a new home.

"Many people have a lot of visitors over the festive period and households can become very busy and chaotic for a couple of weeks. When introducing animals to a new home it is essential that the first few weeks are kept as quiet and stress-free as possible to allow the animals to settle into the new environment and transition into the home and their new lives

"If anyone is interested in adoption, we advise waiting until the new year when households settle down and their lives return to normal before looking to introduce a new pet."

One of the centre's dogs, Yogi, a Japanese Akita had a particularly difficult start to life and had previously been adopted before then being brought back to the kennels.

After being given up in June by his owner because he had been attacked, he was rehomed, only to be driven back to the centre unloved a short two days later.

When Michelle Neale and partner Andrew spotted him online in August, shortly after buying their first home, they knew he was the perfect family fit.

Cabin crew member Michelle, 36, said: "We had always wanted a dog and knew that once we had bought our first home, that we would get one.

"My partner's brother has had a rescue dog for 10 years and we just fell in love and knew we wanted a rescue dog. When I saw Yogi on the RSPCA website in September, I screamed and my partner nearly crashed the car because we had first seen him in August before he was adopted.

"It was amazing. We had outdoor meetings with him and I fell in love straight away. Puppies normally come running up to you and jumping at you, but Yogi just did his own thing."

But because of his past, it took Yogi almost two weeks to even be able to sit next to Michelle, who was soon to take him in and give him a home.

Now, she said that the difference in him has been 'extremely rewarding'.

She added: "It took a lot of viewings before he started to have any contact with us. Since we adopted him, it has been unbelievably rewarding to see his improvement.

"Although the current situation going on in the world is awful, it has been nice to spend time with him and help him to settle in. It has made Christmas for us in our new home."

And one of the centre's biggest success stories is that of Izzy, a Lurcher Cross who had been left abandoned in a charity shop.

She had come from a life of abuse and her previous owners parting gift to her was a smack around the head as she was tied up and left.

Just before she was set to be rehomed, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, meaning there was a period of time where the dogs couldn't leave the branch.

Branch Manager Claire Russell said: "When she arrived with us she was incredibly withdrawn and terrified of everyone she met.

"After time and patience from our dedicated team, Izzy started to show her trust in us and slowly started making friends with the staff and volunteers. She worked weekly with a behaviourist who dedicated his time to boost her confidence around meeting new people and prepare her more for her new life.

"Izzy found her new family in August and after weeks and weeks of viewings with her new parents, the time finally arrived where we could wave goodbye and she could start her new life.

"She is making us all so proud every day as she is overcoming her fears which accumulated over the years from a history of abuse."

The RSPCA Preston branch told the Post in July that their shelter was 'on the brink' due a lack in funding brought by the pandemic.

This Christmas has been a bit brighter for those three families that have spent it with their new dogs - meaning the charity can spend time rehabilitating other dogs in need.

For information on dogs available for adoption, visit the Preston RSPCA website here.

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