A Poem for a Rescue Dog by Kate Hanford

When we rescue a dog, it doesn’t come gift-wrapped in shiny paper with a pretty gift tag and a huge bow. They arrive broken, neglected, scared and lonely. The majority settle into their forever homes seamlessly, others carry with them the ghosts of their past. As adopters, we try to take away the hurt and bring some sunshine into their lives but the path isn’t always easy. However to see a rescued dog curled up in his nice warm bed and giving out a small sigh of contentment…makes it all worthwhile!

The poem is about a miniature dachshund called Mr, Darcy. He was around two years old when we adopted him. His bad behaviour meant this was his last chance and I was determined to make it work. He had aggressive character traits bought on through fear and had lived in many homes throughout his short life. Despite months of training, patience and kindness the fear aggression still remains. However, we have learned to recognise his triggers and he has transformed into a happy little dog.

Here is his poem: