HFP are adopting again! - Lets share a little story of our first in 2021…
Jackie and Jess had been looking at adopting a rescue for a long time, and had actually been matched with a dog from a UK charity. Sadly the charity pulled the application at the last minute, leaving these two wonderful people heartbroken. Not to be deterred, Jess posted on social to see if anyone knew of any other reputable charities with suitable rescue dogs looking for homes.
Luckily I’m a friend of theirs and I also volunteer for Hope for Podencos in the UK. Do I know of a charity looking to re-home dogs…? Yes of course I bloody do, so I reached out and the conversations began.
Jackie got their pre-adoption form in quick sharp and was delighted to pass the first assessment - a review by Steve. A very heavily pregnant Velvet had just arrived at the centre and based on their criteria we started talking puppies.
Jackie and Jess really wanted to start understanding more about the breed and owning their own dog, so were visting me on the weekends to walk my two (we did actually walk them I swear!). To say they were researching and learning about training is an understatement, I was getting free dog walking and getting to be a part of this incredible journey! Re-connecting with old friends in a pandemic was wonderful and seeing their excitement grow really made me remember why we do what we do. Amazing dogs going to amazing people and forever homes.
Then Velvet gave birth, 9 little pups were brought into a much kinder world than other podencos know, at the centre and in the safe hands of our boss man Steve. Caring for Velvet and her pups day and night. So it was time to start sharing them and these two had a tough decision to make, who to take…?
Well the total babe that is Eddie is the answer to that one.
We started the final stages of the adoption process - homecheck, date alignment, documents and deposits. It was happening. I really want to highlight the huge amount of work done by Steve and Oscar, as with Brexit came so many challenges - paperwork, forms, HMRC contacts and documents and of course sadly additional fees for all.
However, we were still a way to go yet and Jackie and Jess wanted to know a little more about how the dogs cope after such a long transport and upheaval. They had met my two but they were already settled in. At the time we were doing a UK re-home (no fault of the dog or the owners) and needed transport. Jackie and Jess offered their services, and so began the journey from London to Lancashire with the most enourmous Podenco Ibicenco I have ever seen.
It was a long day full of mixed emotions, I couldn’t have done it without them. But it gave us all a real insight into how transports can be and what to expect both sides of the journey.
And then the day arrived, Eddie had left the centre and was on his way. Jackie and Jess kindly invited me to go with them to get Eddie which was all totally new to me, I support on UK adoptions and transfers but have never been part of a collection. Needless to say the journey did not go to plan with unexpected closures on the M25. But we managed old school style with a map and determination to navigate our way to Eddie. When we arrived he was ready and waiting. They cried, I cried, it was an overwhelming and beautiful moment.
Eddie continues to blossom and settle in to his new home with his new mums, just in time for their wedding. I’m sure he’s helping with all the plans too, right guys?!
Of course there were other beautiful pods on our first post-brexit transport who all went to amazing homes, after all that work why limit ourselves! And there have been many of you over the years who have done just the same as you see here, our incredible Hope For Podencos community. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for saving these dogs, we are nothing without you. Together we are stronger.
For me, I’m here to learn and do better each time we receive a form, speak to a potential adopter and support our new pod families. This journey has helped me see and understand a lot. Thank you Jackie and Jess for letting me be so involved in such a special time for you both.
With much love! The HFP team xxx
If you would like to adopt a podencos you can see our available dogs here!