'She's a complete joy'

A long-stay dog has finally found a sofa to call her own.

Mabel was at The Blue Cross for eight months waiting to be picked.

The two-year-old finally found the family of her dreams when Gavin and Louise Wheeler came to see her at our Burford adoption centre.

The couple had lost their dog Alfie in a tragic road accident last year and finally felt ready to get another pet.

After having to work through some behavioural problems with Alfie, Gavin was particularly cautious of choosing the right dog.

He says: “We saw Mabel on the website and fell in love with her but I had reservations because I recognised qualities in her that I had seen in Alfie.

“I went to see her on my own and took her for a walk and we didn’t seem to make a connection.”

Gavin was also worried that because the youngster is so boisterous, he was warned he might not ever be able to let her off the lead in a public place.

He voiced his fears to Blue Cross staff who worked with him to help him get to know Mabel a little better.

He says: “She had spent quite a long time at The Blue Cross and I admired her spirit.

“I thought she was fabulous and definitely needed a chance but something still niggled me about a lack of any connection.”  

The couple arranged to take Mabel home for a trial to see how she would react to the different environment.

And it dispelled any fears Gavin had about whether Mabel was the right dog for them. He says: “She’s been a complete joy ever since.

“I let her off the lead and she’s very full on when she meets other dogs but she knows the limits.

“She’s a perfect playmate for many of the dogs around here and she’s made lots of friends.”

He adds:  “I’ve got a great relationship with her – Alfie was a mummy’s boy but Lou says Mabel is a daddy’s girl.

“I have built her some jumps in the garden and there’s nothing she loves more than leaping over them in exchange for a toy or a treat.

“We’re very pleased with the decision we made to have Mabel, she’s a gem.

“She spends a lot of the time on the sofa – or wherever the sun is.

“I think The Blue Cross are fantastic and we’re delighted with Mabel.”

Have you adopted a Blue Cross animal? Tell us all about it by emailing editor@bluecross.org.uk