Zaks Legacy dog fostering and adoption

31/01/2025

It’s time for an Alfie update! After delivery he spent over an hour running around (and round and round!) my large patio at top sp*ed (garden was flooded) stopping only briefly to lift his leg to p*e almost continuously on anything and everything!! A while later I let all the other dogs out to inspect him … and he was lovely with them all. Finally it got too wet and cold so I picked him up and put him in a crate indoors.

Long story short .. he slept all evening and through the night. Fortunately since then I now seem to have a ‘normal’ dog! As we always do I’ve watched him very carefully and have succeeded in stopping him from p*eing and ‘marking’ indoors … which I think would have been his inclination!

I’m delighted to say that he’s a smashing little chap … good with all the others, a bit greedy (at first) but not possessive over food, quiet, affectionate (and loves a bum scratch 🤣), sleeps overnight in a crate with no accidents …. and he likes people so much that little tail just never stops wagging!

He will now go voluntarily into his crate when he’s tired, curl up into a fluffy little ball .. and fall fast asleep. I only close the crate overnight.

He’s been on several walks, both on the pavement and in woods, is (sort of) learning to walk on my LHS. He certainly had bags of energy and really loves his walks.

Jacky gave him the once over for me yesterday and he appears to be quite fit. Due to the condition of his teeth it’s even possible that he could be a bit younger than the estimate by the Romanian vet. Maybe even 9 or 10, but of course we have no way of ever knowing. The ages of all our dogs can only be estimates. His eyesight seems fine … but I do suspect he’s a little deaf! He watches me all the time so will pick up some hand signals. We’re working on that!

I’m only posting photos as I can never seem to be able to post both photos and videos. So frustrating!

28/01/2025

At a very respectable hour yesterday afternoon the 2 dogs arrived, first Zina with Jacky and then Alfred (who we refer to as Alfie) with Anita 👏👏.

Zina was quite 'shut down' and shell-shocked and at first she just stood shaking. After a little while, however, and with the help of Jacky's dogs to give her a confidence boost, she started to relax and show her sweet, friendly nature. After a bit of crying she settled for the night and she is really coming out of her shell today.

Alfie, on the other hand, arrived full of beans and this elderly chap quite wore Anita out 😂. Fortunately, he did finally come down to earth and settled for the night recharging the batteries ready for another busy day!!

He really is a friendly, confident and extremely active boy who just loves people and life, but seems to forget he is an older gentleman and he does need a few reminders about good manners 🤦‍♀️.

The dog that arrives is not usually the same dog a week later, but this is day one of their new lives in the UK and little do they know how good it is going to get once they go to their forever homes.

24/01/2025

Zina and Alfred have been collected from their respective rescuers/fosterers … and now are all ready to set off tomorrow for the long journey to the Uk.

They’re probably both feeling some anxieties at being taken away from all the scents and sounds they’ve known all their lives. It will take them a little while to appreciate that their new lives will have many advantages over their past lives. But it will happen .. it always does 🥰🥰.

21/01/2025

A little update as Jacky and I have just heard the the bus bringing Alfred and Zina to us is leaving Romania on Saturday rhe 25th of January!!! Eeek .. not long now before they arrive at our homes!

I believe there may (🙏) possibly be some interest in Zina, but Alfred is just traveling in hope!

Pic of Zina in comments …

17/01/2025

This little chap is looking for a home after he was dumped on the doorstep outside Jacky's work 😥.

He was left with a note saying they didn't want him because he did a poo in the bathroom instead of outside!!! He has been using his tray with us so we can only assume they didn't want a litter tray in the house 😡

He is 5 months old, very friendly and has been neutered and microchipped today. He is currently in Preston Road Vets.

If you know of anyone who might be interested, please contact us or text, PM or WhatsApp Jacky direct on 07436 425578.

15/01/2025

Hello everybody 😊 … I’d like to introduce you to a little old chap called Alfred. He is currently in Romania but thankfully safe now. About six months ago he was found hiding in a storm drain, wet , shivering and starved. His estimated age is 11 to 12.

He is booked to travel to me on the 25th January transport. On the same bus as Zina, Jackys next dog. How could I possibly say no? Amazingly and brilliantly he has passed all his necessary blood tests too! His adoption donation will reflect his age and I’m desperately hoping that someone will let him see out his remaining years with comfort and love 🙏❤️!

12/01/2025

Thought we would take this opportunity to update you on some of the dogs homed in 2024:

Firstly adorable Rita, our little oldie, who is quite the guard dog and looks after her older adopters very well 🤣. She is a wonderful companion for them 🥰.

Lottie was a very shy girl, but she amazed us with how well she settled in with her new family and she has even been on holiday with them to France 👏👏.

Marnie also went on holiday with her adopter and she loved the beach. They even managed to wear this little dynamite out 🤣.

Nadja has a very special place in our hearts and we were so delighted when she found her perfect home after her original adopter so sadly passed away 😥. She is enjoying life and is so adored 🥰.

Freddy was another older one and after a few false starts he found the perfect adopters. He has been back to Anita for a couple of sleepovers and settled back in but was very pleased to go off with his new 'mum and Dad' 🥰.

Champ and his adopter are also a perfect match and go all over the place together, pub. Cricket club, visiting friends and relatives and some lovely walks. What an absolute star he is 🤗.

Dylan was a very scared chap when he arrived in the UK with Anita, but he took to his adopters as soon as they met and he has settled beautifully. They absolutely adore him ❤️.

Finally little Dottie who moved in just before Christmas and she is described by her adopter as 'absolutely brilliant'. She was not fazed by the Christmas activity and gets on so well with her canine sibling Biscuit 😊.

All of these dogs have found a forever home where their adopters cannot imagine life without them and this makes us so happy ☺️.

07/01/2025

This girl is called Zina and she is our next Zaks Legacy foster dog 👏👏.

The first January bus was full, so she is booked to come at the end of the month as long as all her tests are ok 🙏🙏.

Zina does have somebody who is waiting and keen to meet her once she is settled. We are always happy to bring a dog with somebody in mind and there is never any commitment if it is not a perfect match!

As usual, we will let you know as soon as she is on her way.

01/01/2025

Welcome to 2025!

Many people like to party and see in the new year in style. Others like to quietly reflect on the year just gone and hope that the new year is a good one. Often people make resolutions or maybe start to plan for a big event or change in their lives!

For us, it is quite simple because EVERY year we just hope that more dogs in shelters and living on the streets in cruel countries can be saved and more dogs find wonderful homes 🙏🙏.

We thank you all for helping us with our dream and wish you good health and happiness in 2025 🥰🥰

24/12/2024

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Christmas is a time when we reflect on those we have loved and lost, both canine and human. We remember them with some sadness, but we also think of the great love and joy they brought into our lives ❤️❤️.

We would like to wish all our adopters and followers peace and happiness this Christmas and a New Year filled with joy and good fortune.

A huge thank you for all your support which has meant that 13 dogs have found their forever homes since last December 👏👏!

Considering Anita's illness since May this year which limited her ability to foster, and at a time when adoptions are so hard, we feel this is a wonderful achievement.

We look forward to bringing more over in 2025. Maybe even Connor and Jack will find their first forever homes too 🙏🙏

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

22/12/2024

Today all of Doica's Christmas dreams came true. Now named Dottie, she moved into her forever home 👏👏.

She has been going for visits and loved going there, in fact she ran in without a backward glance and tail wagging non stop. She will be very much loved by her adopters and hopefully also by her canine sibling Biscuit.

Every dog homed makes room for another, but transport has stopped until January now so watch this space.....

14/12/2024

We realise that this is a bad time for homing dogs, so this is more of an update and reminder about 2 very 'special' foster dogs we have, and it will be repeated from time to time.
----‐‐-----------------------------------------------------------------

Ok we may well be searching for the impossible here, but nothing ventured, nothing gained....so here goes.

Anita and Jacky each have a long term foster dog, Connor with Anita and Jack with Jacky. Both of these dogs need a very special sort of adopter, because they are far from 'normal' and we will explain.

Connor arrived 18 months ago so unbelievably traumatised that it is impossible to even describe the level of terror. He has now transformed into a lovable, bright and inquisitive young chap who is easy to live with and actually really likes people once he gets to know them. His biggest fear is the Vets and he remains uncastrated because of this fear and the fact that removing his testosterone might just exacerbate any remaining anxieties.

Jack also arrived terrified but he came round much quicker. He does, however, remain scared of people other than Jacky and Anita with whom he is gentle, kind and loving. He will approach some people for food but very tentatively and will likely always be unsure about people he doesn't know well.

The fact that both of these dogs have bonded with us means that they would bond with the right adopter and be with them as they are with us. They would likely regress temporarily to begin with and would always have a few little demons, but goodness they really are both smashing dogs.

They each need a quiet home without too much coming and going and preferably with another calm dog to show them the way. They would also each need multiple visits from and to any prospective adopter before moving in.

This means that any adopter does need to be accessible to us so that we can each provide as much support as needed, but not so close as to be confusing for the dog. Connor is in Prestwood, Bucks and Jack is in Bushey, Herts so somewhere not too far from these respective localities would be ideal.

It is also worth mentioning that the charity who technically 'own' Connor are happy to find a long term foster home rather than adopter (or foster with a view to adopt) and this does offer some benefits.

So there you have it. We are putting this out there as an interest story, but also in the hope that there might be somebody who feels that they have what it takes to adopt one of these dogs or at least meet one of them before considering next steps.

10/12/2024

I posted this on my profile but like it so much I hoped some of our followers, supporters and adopters might like it too …

The dogs I know have more soul, more heart, more love, more connection, more patience, and more softness than any human I’ve ever met. They don’t ask for anything, no explanations, no justifications. They just stay, steady and sure, as if they’ve always known what you need before you do.

People complicate love. They wrap it in conditions, dress it in expectations. Dive it towards pain and disappointment. A dog doesn’t do that. Their love is raw, honest, and without strings. Without complications. They see you..not the version you show the world, but the one you keep buried. And they love that version most of all.

I’ve met plenty of people, but none have ever matched the soft, gentle loyalty of a dog. They don’t try to fix you; they just sit beside you, whole and true. Through thick and thin. And that’s more than most humans will ever understand.

R.M. Drake ⭐

Artist Credit: pete_illustrations

07/12/2024

An update on the rather special Dillon .. now spelt Dylan!

He has been in his forever home, for exactly one week today!

He’s gone from being a very sad boy, who had lost everything that he’d become attached to and even loved, over there in Romania, to a dog who began to think that maybe the Uk and living with my pack wasn’t so bad after all! Lovely morning greetings and requests for the bum rubs all dogs love so much! Then he met his potential new mum … and they hit it off immediately .. then eventually he visited their home and met his dad too! All love at first sight, which of course is what we always dream of for our dogs.

And now he’s been living there .. only about 3 miles from me, for one week .. during which time he’s settled and moving on really well … only one complaint, his mum (yes, you know who you are 🤣🤣) really isn’t that au fait with taking pictures and videos for me 😩😩! I will be visiting when I’m invited and taking more updates myself 😂😂

I am truly so happy to see him where he’s been waiting to be for his entire life ….

I would like to add that he was still in Romania when his adopters first saw pictures and videos of him (and several others) and Zaks Legacy brought him over specifically for them to have a no commitment meet …

We can do that same thing for anyone who is thinking of adding another family member …

29/11/2024

Doica has now been here for a couple of weeks and we think she is ready to start advertising, so the following advert will be going out on Jacky's local pages this weekend 🙏🙏.

This pretty princess is called Doica and she is my latest Romanian foster dog looking for her forever home.

Doica is 18mths to 2 years, small size at approx 7kg and she was found on the streets by an elderly couple, having recently given birth. Despite their best efforts, the rescuers were sadly unable to locate the pups 😪😪, but they took Doica in and cared for her.

Doica really is full of fun and truly brightens up every day with her friendly, affectionate, playful and slightly cheeky personality! She arrived wagging her tail and it just hasn't stopped.

When she meets new people, she wags her tail furiously and will sidle up carefully (and who can blame her given the harsh treatment she has endured) but once she trusts, she just adores fuss and attention.

She is also a bright little girl, who is quickly learning the house rules. She is quiet at night, crate trained, toilet trained, lives happily with my dogs and fine with cats.

Doica would suit a family or active older adopters. Essentially she would suit anyone who has lots of love to give and can continue with her basic training.

She is spayed, vaccinated and blood tested for foreign diseases. Home check and adoption fees apply to Zaks Legacy.

If you think Doica might be the girl for you or you would like to know more, please PM, text or WhatsApp Jacky on 07436 425578

24/11/2024

Just thought we would update you on Rosa's progress and it is good news ☺️.

Rosa's tests so far have ruled out some serious diseases. She is mildly anaemic and has a slight heart murmur so we will continue to monitor this.

It is possible that some of her symptoms are due to mild onset dementia, which is quite common in dogs but let's be honest, it could be so much worse!

Rosa is happy being a slightly grumpy old lady and putting the other foster dogs in their place 😂. Let us hope she continues to live with Jacky for some time to come 🙏🙏.