27/05/2023
What a beautiful story.
RUSSELL THE LEGEND AND HIS MANY, MANY BEDS!
Back in 2019 we met the legendary Russell; he had been on our waiting list for a little while and we had finally found him a perfect match in 5-year-old German Shepherd Riley. Russell was overcome with gratitude for his new best friend, Riley was exactly what he had been looking for, a beautiful, friendly girl who just wanted company, she was easy-going and happy to follow Russell around everywhere.
After a few months, Russell asked how he could support us, he wanted to do something different, buy our dogs a product they really needed so he would know his efforts would go to good use! At the time, we were running a little low on dog beds, and mentioned that we would need to buy some soon for our incoming foster dogs.... Before we could even finish our sentence, Russell said “I will get them for you, where can I drop them off?”
Well, the rest is history, Russell has made it his mission to ensure we never go without beds again and that it is one less expense our rescue must worry about. For the past 4 years, each month Russell drops off a HUGE pile of big, fluffy beds that he has purchased along his travels, he has even started buying dog toys, bowls, and anything else he thinks our dogs may like, he always asks us if there is anything else we need. Of course, the gorgeous Riley must have a say, if she likes a product, Russell goes out and buys it for the rest of our dogs, we literally have a shed just dedicated to Russell’s beds, he makes sure it is full so that our foster dogs can be warm and comfortable when they come into our care.
To some, a bed is just a bed, but to rescue dogs, it is often the first possession they own, the one thing that no matter what, they will get moved around with and has their smell on it. Dogs find comfort having their familiar bed with them, we always make sure that wherever possible, the first thing packed in our transporter’s cars is the dog’s bed. We have had so many of our dogs snuggle down into a ‘Russell bed’ on their first night and take a deep sigh as they shut their eyes knowing they are safe.
We can not express how thankful we are to Russell, whilst he isn’t an official volunteer on our books, our rescue owes so much to him and his passionate bed collecting, he is truly one in a million.
We feel so incredibly lucky to have met Russell, please join us in thanking him and recognising his huge contribution over the years!
Here is a photo of the hero himself, Russell, and that gorgeous girl with him… that would be Riley! We also thought we would share just some of the dogs who have enjoyed Russell’s beds over the last few years, it really warms our hearts to know just how many dogs Russell has helped ❤
