Meet Cleo (AKA Cleopatra, Cleekie, Cleeks, Cleo Bear and several other variations), she’s a rescue dog from Spain.
When Peanut died last year she left a big hole in our lives, albeit a less smelly one, and I’ve wanted a second dog ever since. I knew I didn’t want a puppy again – having a puppy is like having a newborn; lack of sleep, carpet stains, repeating yourself over and OVER and I felt strongly about rescuing a dog. I kept my eye on several websites in the hope that I’d see ‘the one’ … and three long months later I did. She popped up on the local vet page on Facebook, via a lady in our village, who we now affectionately refer to as ‘The Dog Fixer’.
Cleo popped up on The Asociacion de Animales de Berja’s Facebook page. A charity, they rescue stray dogs in Spain, foster them in local homes and once a month do a run over to the UK to re-home the lucky ones. We paid the charity £150 which included vaccinations, neutering, travel costs and really is nothing when you think about what goes into rescuing a dog, the vet bills and bringing her from Spain.
Cleo was found with five pups on some wasteland. She stayed with C&J, a lovely couple, who foster dogs alongside their family pets. They gave her such a loving home and kept us updated regularly on how she was getting on which really helped us to bond with a dog we’d never met.
She’s been here just over a week and has slotted into our family without any problems. We had never heard of the Podenco breed before but she’s such a gentle soul who runs like a whippet and has the BEST bat ears. She was quite timid to start with but over the last week has come out of her shell. She’s not a fan of baths, loves walks, chasing squirrels and trying to infiltrate the sofa. The rest of the time she likes her sleep – the 11 year old thinks it’s because she’s Spanish and used to having siestas. She can be quite aloof in a mañana, mañana fashion and we have had to wake her to feed her and let her out a few times.
If you are considering getting a dog please think about a rescue dog. There are so many dogs out there who just need the right family.
We think Cleo has found hers.
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4 Comments
Hello there – We are also fostering / adopting a pup from this charity . Cleos pup in fact! Kiki is coming to us at the end of January ! It is nice to hear your story . How is she getting on now she has been with you for a few months? Jeanette x
She is adorable! Really good to see people choosing rescues than going for a puppy 🙂
We’re sure she has found her furever home (preferably sofa). You all sound as though you really enjoy her company . . . . when she’s awake!
Thank you for writing this article, it lovely. If it raises awareness so that just one more deserving dog finds their furever home, then it will have been worthwhile. Hopefully it will be many more.
Rescues are forever grateful. I bet she livens up more when she knows she has found her forever home. Thanks for rescuing, my friend. I am hooked on it! xox