As part of our Paws for Thought campaign this year, we’re sharing stories of how adopting a pet has improved people’s wellbeing. Marcella adopted an older dog, Olive, from Bristol Animal Rescue Centre in 2018. Here, she tells us about how Olive changed her family’s lives irreversibly for the better.
Tell us about how you came to adopt Olive
We adopted Olive in August 2018. She was already an older girl at 13 years old but I just fell in love with her instantly. I loved everything about her, and I knew she needed to come home with me. I brought my mum and boyfriend to meet her at the rescue centre, we walked along the canal and before we got back we knew we would be signing adoption papers. She was just the perfect dog in every possible way, and she was so beautiful.
We had fairly recently bought a new house and my amazing mum agreed to be ‘doggy day care’ while we were at work so it was the perfect arrangement. Olive adored my mum and loved snuggling up on the sofa with her.
What were your first impressions after adopting Olive?
Being an older dog, Olive was quiet at the rescue centre, but when we brought her home she really came out of her shell. On the first afternoon, she ran around the whole house and garden, checking out every nook and cranny. She knew she had found her forever home. That night she settled down in her lovely new bed and snoozed the night away. Waking up to her was the best day ever.
How did having Olive improve your wellbeing?
Olive changed our lives forever. She was very gentle and had a really calming presence in the house. She was so wonderful to have around and just be with. I had to have an operation a few months after she came into our lives and she spent my recovery time with me on the sofa, snuggled up watching Netflix and drinking tea. She was a tremendous comfort and great company.
Adopting Olive meant that we discovered new places and new walks, which was undoubtedly wonderful for our fitness and health. This is something we loved doing, as she so loved to have a wander in the woods or at the arboretum. I bought walking boots and walking coats – something I never would have dreamed of buying before! She got us out in the fresh air, and it was a true gift.
What was Olive’s personality like and how did that affect you?
I know everybody says this, but Olive was truly the best dog in the world. She was loving and kind and just incredible. We adored everything about her. She was so precious to us. Olive wasn’t really interested in other dogs and would just walk past them, we enjoyed many weekends at Westonbirt and she enjoyed lots of holidays in the Cotswolds and Cornwall. She loved the beach!
She also adored my mum, dad and sister and enjoyed going to their houses and relaxing on their sofas. She was so, so spoilt and had the best of everything. I just wanted to make sure that she was happy and comfortable.
As Olive aged she started to require more care, we would carry her up the stairs and in and out of the car. We would lift her onto our bed where she would snooze in the sun. When she wanted to come down we would lift her down. We tried acupuncture and all sorts to help keep her limbs young but sadly time was catching up with her.
We knew at 13, we wouldn’t have her forever. In 11 months we filled in a whole lifetime of love. We made sure of it. The day we lost our girl was the hardest day of my life. I cried for weeks and felt a physical pain from her loss, but I’ll never forget the year we spent loving her. Now our walls and cabinets are filled with photos of her. A precious reminder of the beautiful light she brought into our lives, even if it was only for a short while.
How did Olive’s passing affect you?
When we lost Olive, we were crushed. I cried for weeks and felt a physical pain from her loss. She had become the best part of our day and life without her just felt too sad. In time, however, your life grows around the grief and you come to smile when you remember her and the time you spent together. I look over our photos and videos as a reminder of all that we did, and how much we loved each other. Olive was a gift sent to us and we will never stop missing her.
Now we have another staffy called Bluebell. A fun, mischievous, cheeky girl. The exact opposite of very calm Olive! She keeps us on our toes and is endlessly funny. She has Olive to thank for her coming to live with us (haha!) as we missed having paws around the house. I have always loved staffies and so when we looked for our second dog, there was no other choice.
What would you say to other people who are struggling with their wellbeing and are perhaps considering getting a pet?
Making the choice to get a pet, particularly a dog, is a huge one. Our lives revolve around our dogs and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll never be able to explain how spoilt Olive was, and Bluebell is now! They are my babies. They have brought so much endless joy. Life wouldn’t be the same without them.
