A ruff start… but a happy ending?

Wednesday 24 January 2018

It seems there may still be hope for the “sweetest, gentlest” dog, who was sadly left without a family home for more than a year.

Last month, JSPCA staff said that they were “absolutely devastated” that three-year-old Doberman Ariel had been in their care for 13 months and was still yet to find her forever family.

But now help could be at hand, with one couple showing particular interest. 

The anxious pup had tried to find a home to get some puppy love, but her nervousness proved too much to handle for some.

The young dog is seriously frightened by aspects of daily life like traffic and stairs, and is shaky around dogs after she was jumped on by two larger ones while staying in kennels in early life.

After several months’ in JSPCA care and a lack of ‘bites’ from members of the public, the charity decided to launch a ‘fluffy foster carers’ scheme.

Pictured: Ariel has waited over a year to find her forever home... But, finally, she might have found some puppy luck.

Unfortunately, while Ariel was the inspiration, it seemed that she helped her colleagues out, rather than finding her own success story. 

But that could be about to change. The fun-loving brown canine is currently reserved for a couple, who have been in each day to visit her since last week.

“She will work with the family and our behaviourist at the JSPCA site and then visit their home too, until she is comfortable with the routine. It will take some time, but fingers crossed we are moving forward in finding her a home,” Animal Care Assistant Coordinator Babs Keywood explained.

While it’s hard to know what the future holds for Ariel at this stage, the JSPCA are also enjoying the fruits of the foster care scheme, which has seen three fostered pups move onto being full-time loved ones.

Ziggy was the first to find happiness. From the moment they met the black and brown pup, his family say they “knew that we just had to foster.” “He was so good, lots of fun and loved his cuddles, especially knowing we had treats!” they said.

Pictured: Ziggy helped to give his new family an "extra special" Christmas.

Within a week, they wanted to make the arrangement permanent – just in time to have an “extra special” Christmas together. “There was a special card on the tree from Ziggy to our boys thanking them for giving him his forever home. At that point, they did not know that we had decided he was never going back.

“A month on, and Ziggy had made himself at home. He is always behind us, as we move around the house, loves his walks (although still wary about other dogs) and only most recently have we let him off lead (when other dogs are not around). He is good on call back but again probably as he knows there may be a treat or two in it for him! Ziggy loves to play and his toy box has grown in the short space of time that we have had him - in fact, there is no squeaky toy safe from his teeth! He loves his cuddles and if and when he is left on his own, when we get back, you are guaranteed to be smothered in kisses. Our days/evenings are now spent with walks or playtime and lots and lots of tummy rubs.”

And Ziggy wasn’t the only one – old boy Max also found his new best friends, despite arriving at the JSPCA “in a bit of a state” and in need of “some real TLC.”

His new owner “fell in love” straight away, and was ready to commit to her new companion in around just six weeks.

Pictured: Old boy Max settled into his home very quickly - so quickly, that he's able to tuck himself up in bed...

“He is the daftest, happiest little guy you could ever meet. His priorities in life are food, snuggles and sleep, in that order!... He's an old fella with a lot of health issues, so I don't know how long I will have him. But I will be forever grateful to the JSPCA for bringing him into my life.”