THIS National Pet Day, Dogs Trust Basildon is celebrating the story of two-time Olympic Javelin thrower and dog lover Fatima Whitbread MBE, who has given Freddie, the Jack Russell Terrier, his forever home after his rough start to life.
Friendly Freddie’s rehoming story started when he arrived at Dogs Trust Basildon at 10 weeks old, having been abandoned with a broken leg. His tough start meant he spent more time recovering than running around as every energetic puppy should.
Although Freddie quickly recovered and found a home, he ended up back in the care of the charity, as his recovery had left him with too much energy and needing more attention than his adopters were able to provide.
However, luckily for Freddie, once he was back at Dogs Trust, a well-known athlete made a ‘world record’ attempt to give him a second chance.
Initially, former Olympian and long-time Dogs Trust supporter Fatima Whitbread missed her chance to foster Freddie when he recovered from his surgery, so when he arrived back at Dogs Trust, Fatima wasn’t willing to let the opportunity pass her by again and worked with the team to give Freddie the home he needed.
Having settled into his forever home, Freddie has thrived, with Fatima ensuring he gets all the training, exercise, attention and love he needs.
Speaking about the adoption, Fatima said: “When I first saw Freddie, I knew he was the right dog for me! I love an energetic pup, and with the right home and plenty of patience, I knew he would be happy living with me.
“Freddie had a tough start and deserved a second chance at happiness. He’s already brought me so much joy, and I love giving him a place to call his own.”
Lisa Cooper, Manager of Dogs Trust Basildon, said: “We’re so happy that Fatima was able to give our lovely Freddie a second chance at finding his forever home. When Freddie first arrived with us, the poor boy had so much recovery to do, so he was always going to have a lot of energy in reserve! We’re so happy he has a home where he can play, have fun and run around as much as he wants!
“Stories like this show just how important giving our dogs a second chance is and shows exactly what National Pet Day is all about.”
While details of the dogs available for rehoming can be found online, this April, Dogs Trust is encouraging potential adopters to visit their local centre to see the dogs and meet the team caring for them, with the aim of matching potential adopters with the right dog for them.
To learn more about the dogs available for rehoming and how you can support the charity this National Pet Day, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.
