Holding out for a Hiro

Nettleham dog lover, Natasha Rose, has opened her heart and home to a rescue dog who had been waiting more than two years to find a new family after his owner passed away. 

Collie Cross, Hiro, was originally adopted from Dogs Trust as a 14-week-old puppy in 2016 and lived a happy life at the heart of a loving home until sadly his owner died. As the family could no longer take care of him, Hiro found himself back at Dogs Trust in January 2023.  

 To the surprise of the charity’s team, it took just over two years – 755 days - for Hiro to find his special someone, but they were finally able to wave a fond and tearful farewell to him after Natasha fell in love with the dog when she met him on Valentine’s Day. 

 “He’s most certainly my Valentine. He’s beautiful, and a wonderful companion. We will definitely be together forever. He is joyful,” said Natasha.

 “He loves jumping up on the settee for a cuddle in the evening and at night sleeps on my bed, which is lovely as of course when he was in kennels, he wouldn’t have been able to have company at night, so I think he really appreciates that. 

 “I can see him relaxing more and more each day and it’s wonderful.” 

 Hiro is the fifth rescue dog Natasha has adopted from the Dogs Trust as well as the RSPCA. When Jay, who she adopted during the COVID-19 lockdown, died in January this year, she initially thought she wouldn’t adopt for a while, but soon realised her house didn’t feel like a home without a four-legged friend, so began her search. 

 "I’ve always adopted dogs who are considered underdogs because they have been waiting to be rescued for a long time, and I love Collies.  

 “I went on the Dogs Trust website and there was Hiro. I registered my interest and got a call the following day. I had a long chat with one of Hiro’s carers and she made sure I understood everything I needed to know.  

 “Hiro is nine now and he has Addison’s Disease, which means he is on medication, and he is nervous around people he doesn’t know, so both those may have put people off adopting him, but I knew if I met him I’d fall in love with him, it was just whether he would feel the same. 

 “He was at Dogs Trust Merseyside, almost 150 miles away, and it was expected that I would need to meet him several times so that we could build a bond, but that didn’t deter me. I knew it would be worth it if it meant I could give him the home he needed.”   

 Just days later, on Valentine’s Day, Natasha headed up to Merseyside with her daughter Jenny-Anne, and Hiro stole their hearts. They spent a lot of time with him over two days and it proved to be a match made in heaven. 

 Natasha, who is a piano teacher, added: “It was amazing. He relaxed with us quite quickly and by the second day he was rolling over for a tummy tickle so a week later, he came home with us.  

“The Dogs Trust team was amazing. Every dog is different and they have cared for him so brilliantly over the last two years, giving him everything he has needed, which I believe is why he’s adjusted to life back in a home so quickly. 

 “If anyone is thinking of welcoming a dog into their life, please rescue. Dogs Trust never gives up on a dog, and Hiro is testament to that. They would have cared for him for as long as it took him to find his ideal home, and now he has.”  

To find out more about all the dogs still waiting to find their forever homes at visit www.dogstrust.org.uk 

Top picture shows Natasha (right) just about to take Hiro home with Dogs Trust team member Freya McVey.