A nine-year-old Labrador cross called Oreo has finally been rehomed after 490 days at Woodgreen, a pet charity based in Cambridgeshire.
She will be spending this Christmas with her new family for the first time, thanks to the miracle work of her dedicated carers and fosterers who never gave up on her second chance.
Oreo came to Woodgreen’s centre in July 2021 after her owner’s wife sadly passed away, and they were no longer able to meet her needs. Leaving everything she’d ever known understandably left Oreo feeling unsure of the world around her, and as a slightly older dog, she was often overlooked by people looking to welcome a dog into their family. Like all pets, Oreo has her quirks and was seeking a calm and quiet place to call her own.
In all the time she spent in Woodgreen’s care, nobody came to meet Oreo – until a miracle happened. Sue from Cambridgeshire contacted the charity in November looking for a new furry family member, and they were introduced to Oreo. Sue said: “We have missed having an animal in our home over the past couple of years, so it is lovely to have Oreo with us.
“When I come home from work, I always get such a lovely welcome and she gets lots of fuss every day. You can’t sit near her and not give her a scratch or a tummy rub. She is so well behaved, but oh those eyes when you are eating or drinking! I tell the others – just don’t look at her eyes, or she will cast a spell on you and before you know it, you are giving her something!
“We finally put our tree up this week and it was like Christmas came early for Oreo – she had her nose in all the boxes and was checking out all the different smells. My husband is very excited about there being a stocking for her, although I have said we need to be careful what we put in it – I mean, what Father Christmas puts in it – as she needs to watch her waistline! We are still learning every day but we really couldn’t have chosen a more perfect dog for us.”
While waiting for Sue to come along, Oreo stayed with Woodgreen fosterers Alison and Taff Squire, who provided her with a temporary loving home for almost a year. Alison said: “We loved having Oreo, and it was such a rewarding experience to watch her grow in confidence to become the relaxed and happy dog she is today.
“It was heart-breaking to say goodbye – we had a few emotional conversations about whether to adopt her ourselves – but knowing she is so loved by her new family helps. We did what we set out to do by providing Oreo with a temporary home filled with creature comforts, and we’ll be opening our doors to another foster pet as soon as we’re able to.”
Oreo is one of thousands of pets supported by Woodgreen this year alone. With increasing numbers of people turning to charities for help during the cost of living crisis, and more than 200 dogs waiting to come into Woodgreen’s kennels, the charity is asking the public to help them provide a Christmas miracle to more homeless pets. Find out more at www.woodgreen.org.uk
