After years of care Ruby can sparkle in her new home
IN 2011 a Jack Russell Terrier puppy called Ruby found herself in the care of Freshfields Animal Rescue centre.
The staff all fell in love with her right away, and were sure that she would find a home quite soon.
They couldn’t have been more wrong.
Ruby was adopted, but unfortunately came back to the centre a year later, as she was displaying quite extensive behavioural issues.
Her needs were some of the most complex they had encountered.
Dawn Hurst, operations manager at the charity, which has a shop in Moor Street in Ormskirk, said: “Ruby just didn’t seem to process things in the way other dogs did.
“She would appear to be friendly and welcome a fuss, but would then bite ferociously in defence!.
“Ruby was certainly a feisty girl, and one we grew to love here at Freshfields.”
Over the years a small group of volunteers learned to understand Ruby and her behaviour.
But deep down, they knew her prospects of rehoming were slim.
They could not quite believe their luck when Ursula Fitzpatrick contacted them in June to express an interest in Ruby.
Ursula is a keen terrier owner, and after losing her rescue Jack Russell (which had similar issues to Ruby) she was ready for her next challenge.
Ursula began travelling for over an hour to meet Ruby three times a week, and was not deterred when she was not greeted enthusiastically.
It took several months and lots of consistent and gradual “getting to know you” sessions until a bond began to form.
The staff, along with volunteers Breda and Vikki, were so determined to help Ruby find the home of her dreams.
They took Ruby to Ursula’s home for visits so she could familiarise herself with the new environment.
After spending most of her life in a rescue centre they didn’t know how Ruby would respond.
They were amazed and delighted when Ruby trotted into Ursula’s home and ran around exploring as though she had always been there.
Ruby finally went to her new home in Shropshire on November 1.
Ursula said: “Ruby is a difficult dog with significant behavioural issues.
“I would say to any adopter that you need to be very realistic in taking on a dog like Ruby.
“She will never be most people’s ‘ideal dog’.
“I’ve been seeing Ruby several times a week for four months.
“The kennel staff and volunteers have been fantastic in introducing Ruby to me. I’ve worked closely with them and taken their advice. I find it very rewarding to work with problematic dogs.
“Even very small improvements give me tremendous pleasure and it’s a real joy to rehome a dog that’s been in kennels for so long.”
Debbie Hughes, PR and communications for Freshfields, said: “Ruby is another example of why we never give up on any dog here at Freshfields.
“We have no doubt that Ruby would have been put to sleep should she have found herself anywhere else but at Freshfields.
“Every life matters to us, and we make a promise to be there for all of our animals for all of their lives.
“Thanks to our dedicated and compassionate supporters in our community, we can be there for them, and strive to find that special someone for all of our dogs.
“As Ruby’s story shows you should never stop trying. It might take eight years, it might take a day, but here at Freshfields we’ll find a way.”
You can find out more about the many Freshfields dogs at www.freshfields.org. uk or call 0151 931 1604.