ROUX
Harley Jackson
Park View
70 x 45 cm
Whilst Roux (‘Roo’) loves long walks and exploring the outdoors, his favourite place is home and where we photographed him.
He came to us nearly a year ago and we can’t believe how time has flown and how much progress our little guy has made. We first met at a motorway service station close to midnight; we were told to look out for an animal courier with flashing headlights. Not your ordinary first encounter with a new furry family member but one we will always remember so vividly. After two plane journeys and several hours on the road across Europe, dozens of sleepy, hopeful eyes were seen to be peeping out of their travel crate, eight dogs waiting to go to their forever homes. Our brave boy was finally placed into our arms, his tail wagging with pure joy.
Just weeks earlier Roux had been roaming the streets of Larnaca in Cyprus by himself, only two months old. A kind-hearted local brought him to safety and dropped him off at a local pound. We will always be eternally grateful to this person for taking him off the streets. Fortunately, an amazing rescue foundation, Paws for Homes, stepped in and gave him a second chance.
It was a heart-breaking picture on social media that changed the course of Roux’s future and ours. The moment that we saw his little face, we knew that we were going to do everything we could to bring him to the UK and into our family. We don’t know much about his life before, but our journey together has taught us everything that we need to know.
Those first few weeks were so special. We taught Roux to be a puppy. First was letting him know that the cute squishy soft cushion was his bed, that the squeaky fun toys were for him to play with and that the food would never stop and that there was no need for him to fear, ever again. Now, almost a year on, he loves playing fetch and likes to round up all his toys and keep them with him in his bed.
Roux has taught us so much, and with the help of some tasty treats, we’ve taught him a few things too. He’s the most brave, loving and affectionate boy and with some patience and understanding, we have received the biggest gift of all – his heart.
We’ve accepted we can’t change his past, but we are rewriting his future.
Harley Jackson