What to Expect When Rescuing a Dog

Rescuing a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences for any dog lover. In honour of National Rescue Dog Day on the 20th of May, we wanted to share some of our favourite rescue stories from both our team and our customers. If you’ll be rescuing a new four-legged family member soon, keep an eye out on our blog for our next article, where our in-house behaviourist, Diane, shares her advice.

19 May 2025·Dog Advice

Our food is approved & verified by our in-house veterinarian, canine nutritionist and behaviourist.

Nara’s story

Why did you choose to rescue?

“We chose to rescue because, given our jobs at the time, we felt we weren't in the best position to raise a puppy. However, we knew we could offer a rescue dog the stability and support needed to adjust to a new home.”

What was the process of finding Nara like?

“We were searching for a young dog who could share in our active lifestyle, but post-COVID, UK rescue centres were overwhelmed. That’s when we looked overseas - and when we saw Nara’s (then Choopa) photo and story, our hearts were set; she was destined for us, and us for her.”

Did you experience any challenges throughout the process or after you brought Nara home?

“It took Nara longer to heal than we expected, not just from the long journey, but from her life as a stray. Giving her the time and space she needed was a learning experience, but watching her grow into her loving personality, embrace new experiences, and trust us completely has been the most rewarding journey.”

Amy, Nara’s mum

Nara and mum Amy

Deli’s story

When did you rescue Deli?

“We rescued Deli four and a half years ago when she was only six months old.”

Why did you choose to rescue?

“We had previously rescued our incredible little cat from a local rescue centre, so we knew that we wanted to rescue a dog when the time came. Originally, we looked at UK charities, but after speaking with friends who had adopted from Spain, we began our search abroad.”

Can you talk us through the process, from applying to meeting Deli?

“We applied to a few different charities in Romania, and then completed our home check on Zoom as it was during the Pandemic! We were the perfect match for Deli because we were a young (ish), active couple with no other dogs in the house, so she would get all the attention her heart desired. Our charity was incredible and helped us understand the process really well.”

What’s one thing you’d recommend potential rescue owners do before beginning the process of rescuing?

“I would advise anyone looking to adopt to write a huge list of questions to ask because no question is a silly question.”

Sarah, Deli’s mum

Deli sniffing out her new garden

Betty and Bean’s story

When did you rescue Betty and Bean?

“We rescued Betty and Bean in December 2018 whilst living in Canada. As Betty and Bean are a bonded pair, they had sadly been in the shelter for over a year, because there was no interest from anyone to adopt them together. When we saw their photo online, we just knew they were meant to be part of our family.”

Why did you choose to rescue?

“We’ve always chosen to rescue because there are many dogs in need of loving homes. Betty and Bean are sweet girls who just needed love and patience to blossom.”

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share for someone considering rescuing a dog?

“The experience has been rewarding, and if there’s one thing I wish I knew, it’s to trust the process. We were declined for multiple dogs before we found Betty and Bean and it was disheartening. I think people give up too easily when looking for a rescue dog. I believe things happen for a reason and the dog you are meant to have will be the one you adopt if you are patient; the reward is most definitely worth the wait.”

Betty and Bean winning the vote for most stylish rescue pups

Roxy’s story

Why did you choose to rescue?

“From working with rescue dogs previously, I knew I always wanted to adopt a rescue dog and give them a second chance at life. You can imagine how heartbreaking it is working with them and wanting to take them all home at the end of the day!”

How did you know Roxy was the right dog for you, and you were the right home for Roxy?

“When it came to searching for the right rescue dog, we instantly knew when we saw Roxy that she needed to come home with us. She was anxious and lacked trust in people, but had the biggest puppy eyes that we fell in love with. Due to our previous experience and patience, we knew we could provide a home that worked well for her requirements. We knew it was going to be difficult, but from the second we met her, she instantly trusted us; it's as if she knew that we would protect her.”

What’s been your favourite memory with Roxy so far?

“A big moment I won't forget is when she did her first zoomies around the garden. It sounds like something so little for some, but knowing she was loving her new life was one of the best feelings.”

Roxy and rescue mum Steph

Have you rescued your dog and would like to share their story? Share your rescue story in our exclusive Facebook group, Devoted to Dogs, to be in with the chance of winning a delicious treat hamper.

How can I prepare for rescuing a dog?

Keep an eye out on our blog for our next article “How to prepare for rescuing a dog”, where our in-house behaviourist, Diane, will share her expert advice on providing the best home and experience for your new four-legged friend.

What are we doing to celebrate National Rescue Dog Day?

We feed many rescue dogs and even have some rescue dogs on our team, so we wanted to do something special to celebrate. We’re working alongside our local rescue shelter, Hilbrae Rescue Kennels, to raise awareness of the incredible work they do for our four-legged friends.

Our team are excited to volunteer with Hilbrae Rescue Kennels to spend time with the dogs, and we'll be partnering with them on our next Walk & Talk to raise awareness of their work in our local community.

You'll also find lots of educational content across our platforms this month, just like this article. We understand that not everyone can rescue, but we hope our content can inspire those who are able to.

For this week only (16th - 23rd of May), we’ll be donating one meal to the residents at Hilbrae Rescue Kennels for each new customer that signs up to Different Dog. So, if you’ve ever considered trying our meals, now is the perfect time.

Get in touch

If you need some guidance surrounding your rescue dog adjusting to their new diet, or new life in general, get in touch with our team at feedme@differentdog.com where we’ll put you in touch with our behaviourist, Diane.