The rescue dog that started a business - Dottys story

Dotty is my very own Romanian rescue dog, and she’s truly one of a kind! With 24 different breeds in her, she’s as unique as they come.

Her story began in June 2020, when she was found all alone in a petrol station in Romania at just one month old. A kind woman working for the charity K9 Angels found her and brought her to a shelter. Dotty was so tiny that she couldn’t stay with the other dogs and was placed with a group of cats instead. Once she was old enough to be vaccinated, she made the journey to the UK in search of her forever home.

When Dotty first arrived, she was terrified of humans and other dogs. She wouldn’t eat and avoided all interaction. At the time, we weren’t even looking for a dog, but one day, we saw an advert for her on Facebook through a friend who volunteered for K9 Angels and was fostering her. Something about her photos completely stole our hearts.

The first time we met her, Dotty was so nervous that she wouldn’t let us touch her—but her inquisitive nature shone through. There was something so special about her, and we knew she was meant to be part of our family. A week later, she came home with us.

Building Dotty’s confidence took time and patience. She was extremely fussy with food, and we had to try multiple options before finding something she liked. She picked up walking on a lead quickly, and it wasn’t long before she was enjoying off-lead adventures. She learned commands like sit, stay, and come, and while she’s still reactive with larger dogs—especially Labradors—she’s made incredible progress in socializing.

Though she’s still very much a rescue dog with her quirks and sensitivities, her unique personality is one of the things I love most about her. She’s learning how to fully embrace being a dog, and every little milestone she reaches fills me with pride. Dotty’s journey is a beautiful reminder of the resilience and love that rescue dogs bring into our lives. She is the biggest inspiration I have had for Doodle zoo!