Welcome home, Cody: from the streets to his happy place

Originally found living on the streets of Portugal, Cody eventually found his way to us in 2021. He spent three years in our care before a fostering stay turned his life around. This festive season, Cody is finally home for Christmas and has his happily ever after.

As a young pup, Cody lived as a stray in Portugal where survival was a daily struggle. Cody’s story could have ended here, but his fortune changed when a local rescue charity took him in and cared for him. 

Fast forward some months and Cody was adopted and living in the UK with a family who loved him. Through no fault of his own was handed over to our Kenilworth Rehoming Centre in 2021 after just six months. His owners said they were sadly unable to give him the exercise he needed.

Now at three years old, Cody had experienced a lot of change in his life. He enjoyed snuggles with his favourite staff but lacked confidence and struggled to form trusting relationships with new people and dogs. Although Cody had interest from a potential adopter, it sadly didn’t work out. By early 2022, Cody was finding life very hard and had still not managed to secure a forever home.

A new chapter to help Cody’s chances

It was hard to keep Cody calm and work on his training at our busy Kenilworth Centre, so the decision was made to move him to a different environment. In September, he was carefully transported to our Evesham centre where we thought his training could better progress.  Our Evesham Centre is home to fewer dogs and has a different layout, meaning Cody could avoid other dogs more easily. We hoped this would help him relax and reach his full potential with his training.

When Cody had settled in, our training and behaviour team got to work and centre staff say he started to make “incredible” progress. They helped him learn to settle and develop his confidence around other dogs. Cody was becoming more relaxed and trusting of new people, and with slow introductions, he even started to make some doggy friends on walks!

In six months at Evesham, Cody only received one application, but our team weren’t disheartened and kept working to build his confidence and get him ready for his future home. We didn’t know how Cody would be in a home environment, so Canine Carer Emily decided to go above and beyond and take Cody for a short holiday at her house. This gave her the chance to see how Cody was in the home, whilst Cody could put his paws up.

The pair were already great friends, but Emily was amazed at how quickly he settled in her home: “Cody was a delight to have in foster!” she says.

“Cody was the happiest boy in a home and every time I came downstairs in the morning he would come straight up to me wagging his tail at a million miles an hour! What made me laugh is that every time we were done playing he would like to tidy up his toys.”

Thanks to Emily, we had a better idea of how Cody would cope in a home environment, and some lovely new pictures for his rehoming profile. From that point on, Cody received a steady flow of interest and started meeting more potential families.

Julia and Martin came to meet Cody to see if he felt the same. A member of staff took the couple for a walk with Cody and explained his need for a gentle introduction. They explained how Cody became worried around other dogs and the training they had been working on to help him be as happy as possible.

“Despite not meeting us before, Cody warmed up to us surprisingly quickly with help from the Dogs Trust team,” says Julia.

“We then went into an enclosed area and had some time by ourselves with him and we thought he was awesome and wanted to continue with the adoption process. We talked through his background and issues. There was total openness from Dogs Trust.”

Julia and Martin met Cody three times at the centre and were given advice and support from Rehabilitation Trainer Sapphire. They had a successful home visit and with the trio quickly becoming the best of friends, decided Cody was ready for a sleepover. Sapphire was on hand and visited to make sure they were getting along and to answer questions, but it was clear Cody had found his happy place. 

“We knew Dogs Trust would come out to support us if we needed it and that we could always contact them.”

On 25 January 2024, the adoption papers were signed and Cody could start his new life.

“Cody settled in at home really well. He loves snuggling up close to us when we watch TV. He is a very soppy boy!” says Julia.

The couple say they have learned a lot about how to manage Cody’s fear of dogs, and he now can accept reassurance and gradually calm down from being upset. “We have worked a lot on our bond and trust more than anything with Cody so that he feels safe.” 

Cody has slowly met other people and had a lovely holiday with his Nan and Grandad during the summer, where he was a very good boy. “We found he is happiest walking with two people and we walk him where other dogs we may encounter are on a lead so he can feel as calm as possible.”

“With a dog like Cody, we had to give him time to settle and have patience, and work on building a trusting and loving bond, with fun games! Progressions may be slow, but they happen with time and consistency.”

Julia says he is calmer and cheekier now he feels settled at home; “He loves a game of tug and war and a massage, and nudges at you if you stop.”

Home for Christmas with Julia and Martin, his forever family

“It was December time last year when we first met Cody. Now we can’t wait to give him a lovely time and presents this Christmas, especially cuddly toys and puzzle treat toys, which are his favourites!”

“The best present of all though, will be knowing that he has his home with us for the rest of his life. Cody is amazing and to us, he is perfect.”

“There are so many wonderful dogs ready to be adopted at Dogs Trust. I would say don't immediately dismiss an underdog, you may just be the family they are looking for.”