One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Helmand

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The dogs are imported as soon as possible to ensure the new owners and dogs are united. Once the dogs arrive, they go straight to their forever home, where owners are guided by the charity into helping their new pet to settle into their new home. We are delighted to report that 19 precious souls made it safely to the UK last week and are now in their forever homes. Tests for Leishmania, Anaplasmosis, Dirofilarasis, Borrelia (Lyme Disease), Ehrlichiosis and Brucella canis. If I ever needed support, it was there. If I needed advice, it was there. I absolutely understand she was not in the awful kennel (thank God) but however you find your love in the form of a dog, does it matter? No! Inclusion to our exclusive 1 Dog at a Time Adopters Group where you will receive 24/7 adoption support.

I joined the wonderful 1 Dog at a Time Family in March 17. A simple share on Facebook and my application to adopt Annabel Amber and Jessie was successful.

Looking through the many photos, we came across a sibling group of four puppies, three brothers and a sister. Maddie was just a ball of fluff, whereas the three boys were all short haired. Murray, the biggest of the group, had really sad eyes and a face just begging to be loved. So decision made, we’d enquire if either was available. Murray was, but Maddie had been reserved already. Lots of people told me to be very careful about Romanian rescue ‘charities’ and the types of dog they would be rehoming. After losing my dog at 15 years old, I vowed never to get another, but the sense of loss was overwhelming, and I knew I had to fill the emptiness. When my Westie died suddenly in 2019, I found a great big hole in my life but thought I’d never replace him. Moving on a few months, I gradually realised that it was time to have another dog and started looking at rescue dogs. It is sad to see how many dogs need a home, so I decided I would get two small dogs. Nothing really prepared us for Raffles. From day 1 he was so loving, would really lean in like he wanted you to wrap him up and snuggle forever. It’s a good job, as after his initial settling in, he certainly found his feet, and I will not lie, he was a little bit of a challenge.

It’s not easy getting a dog from 1 Dog At A Time Rescue. There were interviews; telephone conversations; videos, and we were not finally approved until we could prove that we had increased the height of our garden fence, as requested. That thoroughness and determination to ensure we were the right match for these special dogs is typical of this meticulously professional organisation. From that moment, we felt supported by a network of people for whom the best outcome for the dogs is of paramount importance. I saw how devoted and loving the Romanian volunteers were, how they worked together with the English volunteers and how they had achieved so much. I watched the video of Eli singing to the dogs and read about Nana and her pups, her fight for survival and how two of her pups had found new homes in the UK. I told my husband, and he was equally smitten about the story of Happy’s and how the dogs lived at this amazing place, where they were shown love and then found suitable homes. Rescue has always been my first love; right from the moment I could walk, I was rescuing. My first recollection was saving butterflies and fish from my brother’s nets, and like so many before me, I insisted my parents stop the car to rescue hedgehogs from the side of the road. As a child, I was always bringing home wounded animals and strays. I’ve grown up with dogs and have shared my happiest and saddest moments with a dog by my side. Hi – I’m Charlotte, I first stumbled across 1 Dog at a Time Rescue UK in 2016. My sister had lost her dog suddenly and unexpectedly and we decided we wanted to make a donation to a dog rescue charity in Henry’s memory. I started searching on the internet and came across 1 Dog,– so we made a donation and that was the end of it – or so I thought! I carried on following 1 Dog via Facebook and was so moved by the plight of the dogs and the wonderful things the charity was doing to help, I was very tempted by some of the dogs available for rehoming, but it wouldn’t have been fair on our old boy, who was enjoying a peaceful retirement. However, when we sadly lost him at the ripe old age of 14 1/2 , after some time to adjust, we decided it was time to welcome another dog into our lives.

Danielle Giannotti with Jessica

Due to the war in the Ukraine, DEFRA temporarily suspended Romanian dogs entering the UK. This was put in place in April and has only just lifted. I have had dogs as long as I can remember. I grew up with dogs and then later when my work/ life balance meant I was able to spend more time at home, it was not long before a dog (or two) joined my family. Fourteen-month-old Percy arrived in July. He has the sweetest temperament you could imagine. He was such a dream we also got six-month-old Millie in October. She is full of mischievous energy and affection. We have been fortunate to have encountered few issues but know that a wealth of expertise and experience would be on hand if required.

My journey with 1 Dog began when l saw a photo of a dog on Facebook, huddled at the bottom of a dirty cage with the saddest eyes l had ever seen. Sadly l knew l didn’t have the space for such a big dog, we already had 2 small dogs but curiosity made me look at the other dogs available & the second l saw her photo l knew the painfully skinny, dirty, petrified little girl living in squalor & filth in the Public Shelter, trying to make herself invisible, was always meant to be mine. I would have walked all the way to Romania to get her if l had to. Molly blessed our life’s and filled our hearts with so much joy, l wanted to pay if forward on her behalf and joined the amazing 1 Dog Team to help other dogs just like her. I have absolutely loved every second, I work alongside the most amazing people. It is probably the most rewarding thing l have ever done. We had never fostered before but felt we were experienced with dogs, having grown up with them, and we had a chocolate lab who had taken about 4 years to calm down so, we felt he was a good induction. Since that day, I have dedicated my life to the care and well being of the abused, forgotten and neglected street dogs out in Romania and spend my day securing the futures of the dogs we rescue. At Bradshaw’s, we decided that change was overdue in the dog food market and we needed to take what we were good at and make it into something very special indeed.. we want our food to reflect our values. Our model is to create a sustainable stream of giving that helps to feed street dogs around the world by simply feeding our own dogs. In the year 2020, the decision was made we were going to get another Romanian puppy, but this time from 1 Dog At A Time Rescue UK. And what a great decision that was. We filled in the adoption forms and chose Rupert from the available dogs.The moment I looked at the pictures, I stopped on our Mikka and fell in love. She was being looked after by who I feel is now our friend Sorrin, a fosterer for 1 Dog. Sorrin sent me updates, videos, and despite the language barrier we communicated, (it was a caring thing). I really wanted to be able to help this wonderful charity more, so I started doing some crafts to donate for the auction to help raise much needed fund. I was very honoured when I was asked to join the fundraising team.