Things were looking glum for Dotty, a Dalmation mix who had been living at the Hillbrae Rescue Kennels in Shropshire, England, for six years.
She's a cute, friendly dog, and she would attract about fiver visitors per day. But for some reason, they all chose other dogs over Dotty when it came time to take someone home.
That means that over the course of six years, Dotty had been visited 10,000 times without going home. It's uncommon, but it does happen, sadly, just like with Tito, who lived in a kennel for years before finally going home.
Marty Burrell, the operator of Hillbrae, was completely baffled by this. "We have no idea why no one's taken Dotty in," he told the Mirror. "She's adorable, a real charmer, and we all love her to bits."
While the staff all loved Dotty, they knew she'd be happier in a home rather than in a kennel, and so they reached out online earlier in December to make people aware that she needed a forever home — and hopefully in time for Christmas!
Read on to see that holiday happiness really does exist!
Dotty, a Dalmatian mix, had spent much of her life in kennels, and though she was visited literally thousands of times by prospective owners, they always chose another dog.
She was well-cared for and much loved by the staff, but they knew that living in a kennel wasn't the best life for her, and hoped, year after year, that someone would take her home.
They were confused as to why no one seemed interested. They thought it might be because she was an active dog who needed a lot of physical exercise, or maybe because at seven, she was already an older dog. But, they said, she never once showed any signs of aggression, and was always quite calm and friendly.
To get her into a loving home, the kennel put out notices and reach out to the public through the Mirror online to generate interest. And then they just had to wait…
…but not for long! Finally, after six long years and countless visits, Ed and Janice Darrall appeared and gave Dotty the first real home she's ever had. They'd seen the article in the Mirror and immediately fell in love.
"As soon as we saw the article…we knew she was going to be the dog for us," Janice said. "I picked up the phone with the paper still in front of me."
They would be Dotty's last visitors at the kennel. After taking her on a walk, the Darralls said they bonded instantly with Dotty, and they took her home the Saturday before Christmas.
They bought her many presents, including toys and blankets, and the new family spent a very happy Christmas morning together.
"We want her to trust us and love us," Janice went on. "She's had a tough start but hopefully now she can get the love she deserves."
The staff at Hillbrae will miss Dotty, but they're happy to see her going to a loving home.
This heartwarming story shows that with a little awareness, someone's life (human or otherwise!) can be changed for the better. SHARE this story to inspire others to rescue a new friend, too!
