You may remember our late night rescue up in the hills and vast forestry on Lough Atorick of 3 terrified dogs who had been so callously left behind to fend for themselves. We managed, over 2 days, to bring all 3 dogs safety and this is Etsys story.
Etsy was the little female Patterdale who, at such a young age, was extremely nervous of humans. While she improved greatly with us, her mistrust and fear was never too far away and we knew that we needed special humans to open up their hearts and home to her and encourage her to let go of the traumas of her past. Well we found those special humans in Katie and Jack.
Katie, some may recognise as she has been a part of our Heathlawn kennels since she was a child working in our kennels and living with many, many dogs over the years, is the daughter of our kennel manager Emma and Jack is Katies partner.
Katie came home for a visit just after we had rescued Etsy and she fell in love with the sweet but very shy little girl and knew instantly this was the dog herself and Jack wanted to adopt (actually Jack didn't have much say in it 
definitely her mothers daughter). Like everyone, she was told to fill out an adoption form and our kennel manager would look at it 
(no favoritism no matter who you are).
definitely her mothers daughter). Like everyone, she was told to fill out an adoption form and our kennel manager would look at it (no favoritism no matter who you are).But we already knew in our hearts that if any couple would give Etsy the time, patience, space and love to grow, it was Katie and Jack. Katie, with her many years experience of rescue dogs, and Jack with his gentle ways even still it was a big ask of Etsy to enter into city life in England, a world she had never before seen but, again, we knew she would be in the most understanding and loving of hands willing to put in the extra work it was going to take to gain her trust.
3 weeks ago a very scared little Etsy made the journey to the UK where Katie and Jack were waiting and even we are amazed at the transformation in such a short time. Etsy, now Maggie has been guided through so many new adventures in the last 3 weeks. The first week was all about taking things slowly and allowing Maggie to process all the strange and new things she was now facing and she was given that all important space. She has been to parks, canal walks, beaches, cafes, shops, pubs and had lots of free off lead at a hired dog park all done at her pace. Probably the most impressive trip of all was her journey into central London on a train and a tube as she went to the office with her new mum Katie and she coped so well. She also loves to sit up on dad Jacks digger.
For a little dog of just a year old whose past was one of trauma, mistrust and neglect, Maggie has blown us all away with her ability to forgive and forget, though to be fair we know just how much work has been done by Katie and Jack in such a short space of time to bring her to this point, for which we are truly grateful.
Sometimes it is the "stickier dogs" that show us the true meaning of rescue as we watch them evolve and let go of their former demons. Maggie is still untrusting of people she doesn't know and has yet to let anyone other than her Mum and Dad approach her without fear (her parents are very strict on keeping her space safe for now from people she doesn't know) but she has learned that it is now possible to love and trust back the two humans in her life who love her unconditionally. The rest will come.
We wish Katie, Jack and Maggie many happy years together and no doubt Maggie will be making the trip back across the Irish Sea at Christmas and for holidays to see her Granny Emma and the rest of the Team at Galway SPCA who helped rescue her and send her on her journey
and the rest of the Team at Galway SPCA who helped rescue her and send her on her journey
