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A Christmas Miracle: Doberman Finds His Forever Home After 862 Days In Shelter

December 16, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Kenilworth, England.

Jake, a 9-year-old Doberman who spent over two years at Dogs Trust in Kenilworth, finally has a family to call his own—just in time for Christmas.

Jake / Dogs Trust Kenilworth

After spending the last two holidays at the shelter, this year Jake will celebrate with John and Amanda, the couple who gave him the gift of a forever home.

Jake’s journey hasn’t been easy. When he first arrived at the shelter, he was terrified of dogs, humans, and, as staff described, “just about everything.” His combination of medical needs and the patience required for his training meant that Jake was often overlooked by potential adopters.

The Dogs Trust team worked hard to help Jake overcome his fears, but it seemed he might never find a home—until John and Amanda stopped by his kennel.

Drawn to the shy Doberman, the couple spent weeks getting to know Jake and participating in training sessions with the shelter staff. Their dedication paid off, and Jake’s adoption became official.

Jake arrived with us at @DT_Kenilworth as a stray in 2019 💔 After a while in our care, we were thrilled when two supporters expressed interest in Jake and we knew they could support him with his medical and behavioural needs 🎉 Jake has certainly found his happy place 💛 pic.twitter.com/U7wRhaqQ3S

— Dogs Trust 💛🐶 (@DogsTrust) December 1, 2024

"When we collected him, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house—except for Jake, who happily jumped into our car!" John and Amanda shared.

"He’s settled in beautifully, growing in confidence every day, and has already made new friends, including the postie and a barman with dog treats."