A story about love, loss, healing, and a little rescue dog named Dougie. After the loss of Oscar, Dougie helped Nicola to heal. While Dougie was learning how to be a rescue dog moving into a new home, the love and personality he shared, gave back even more to his adopter. Here in her own words she explains what having Dougie has meant.

Two years ago, I said goodbye to my soul dog, Oscar. He was everything to me, the kind of dog who becomes woven into your very being before you even realise it, until the moment they are gone. After losing him, the thought of opening my heart again felt impossible. The pain was too raw, too vast.
At home, we had our beautiful cockapoo Kiko, my partner’s dog when we met, and I loved her deeply. Still, I felt a quiet, persistent pull, a whisper that maybe, one day, another dog might find their way into our lives.

We started looking, mostly at puppies at first, but I kept returning to rescue sites. I did not fully understand why, but my heart seemed drawn there again and again.
Then one morning, over a coffee, I saw him.
At the time, he was called Hector. When I first saw his photo, something in his eyes reached straight to a place inside me, a deep, silent understanding that needed no explanation. There was no hesitation, no doubt. I simply knew. I applied immediately.

When I told my family later, they were supportive, though a little surprised by his size, since we had been thinking of a larger dog. But they recognised that this was a decision made with conviction and heart.
I had a wonderful conversation with Alison from DNV Save Animals about the adoption process. She was kind, knowledgeable, and made everything feel manageable and positive. The more photos and videos Vera shared, the more certain I became.

This little dog carried something extraordinary. There was light in him, a quiet energy, a trust, and something else I could not quite name. But I felt it instantly. When we received the call confirming our approval, I spent much of that day crying, not just tears of happiness but of relief and peace. It felt as if something long broken had finally begun to click back into place.

The Beginning

The moment we picked him up, I knew.
Dougie was not a replacement for Oscar. He was not a substitute. He was his own kind of everything.

He stepped into our lives as though he had always belonged. From the start, he trusted me without hesitation or fear. There was no need to “work through” anything, just pure, complete love. The bond was immediate and, somehow, familiar.

He settled in effortlessly. Within half an hour, he was racing through the garden with our cockapoo Kiko, playing tug of war and chasing each other as if they had been inseparable forever.

Learning Each Other

The only real challenge, if it can even be called that, is his recall. He is a true explorer, nose to the ground, utterly focused, chasing invisible trails like his life depends on it. He is not motivated by food, so training requires creativity, but we are heading to classes soon.

Other than that, he has been easy, so easy it feels less like we chose each other and more like we found each other. He is playful, bursting with energy, and affectionate in his own unique way.

How He Has Changed my Life

I never thought I had room in my heart for another connection as deep as the one I shared with Oscar. But Dougie never asked for space; he simply filled the gap gently and completely.

We have found our rhythm now. When it is time for a walk and the harness comes out, he transforms into pure chaos, bouncing like a spring, spinning in circles, trying to wriggle his head through the straps. It is impossible not to laugh, even when putting on the harness turns into a wrestling match.

He has been a quiet anchor through some of my most difficult moments, especially during perimenopause, which can be emotionally draining. On days when I have felt heavy, lost, or disconnected from myself, he has been my calm, my reason to rise, step outside, and simply breathe. Looking at him, I cannot help but smile.

His Personality is Enormous

Dougie is funny, clever, mischievous, and deeply loving. He is not a lap dog, but he is always near, curling up at my feet while I work, following me silently from room to room, or coming over for cuddles.

After every walk, he and our cockapoo burst into zoomies, wrestling and racing through the house like it is their own private obstacle course. Then, when the excitement fades, he becomes the calmest, most peaceful presence in the room for the rest of the day.

He has a dozen nicknames, Dougie, Doug, Douglet (my daughter’s favourite because “he is half a dog,” in the sweetest way). He even has his own cosy den under the stairs, a real doggy penthouse we set up just for him.

Why Rescue ?

After losing Oscar, my heart felt broken in a way I believed might never heal.
Opening myself to love again seemed unimaginable because the pain felt endless.

But rescuing Dougie revealed something profound. Healing is not about forgetting or replacing. It is about two souls finding each other and slowly piecing themselves back together.

Dougie came into our lives not to fill a void, but to walk beside us through the healing. Rescue gave me the chance to give love where it was needed, and in return, he gave me hope, comfort, and a new kind of connection I never anticipated.

There is something deeply beautiful about rescue dogs. They carry unseen stories and sometimes invisible wounds, yet they hold an endless capacity to trust and love again. When you open your heart to them, you both heal.

If you have loved and lost and wonder if you can love again, rescue may be the answer. Sometimes the way back to yourself is through the eyes of a dog who needs you just as much as you need them.
Dougie’s story is proof that love can grow from loss and that healing can arrive in the
gentlest, most unexpected way.

Dougie and Kiko have their own little world on Instagram now, (dougieandkiko) where we share their antics, adventures, and everyday moments that remind us how much love and life they bring. If you want to follow along on their journey, you’re more than welcome to join us, because their story is still unfolding, full of friendship, and a whole lot of heart..