For a tiny little dog, Theo the Yorkie from Derry created a massive stir when it was revealed he had been dumped by his family as 'unwanted'.
After seeing his plight reported on DogsLive, hundreds of people offered him a forever home, including three families in the US, one even offering to travel 3,500 miles to collect him and transport him to a new start in the States.
But Theo's happy ending happened closer to home and today he is cosied up with his new family just in time for Christmas.
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Theresa Green Hoff was one of the American citizens who applied to adopt Theo, willing to dip into inheritance left to her by her mother to pay for flights from her home in Pewaukee, Wisconsin to collect the little dog and take him home. She said: "Anyone who know me, knows I have always wanted a Yorkie. We have always rescued our furbabies because somebody always needs love so Theo really caught my eye.
"When I saw the article I felt I had to do something. The look on Theo’s face just melted my heart. I wondered if it was impossible, then I said, yes of course it's possible. Then I checked that my passport was up to date and I opened my computer and looked at flights on Air Lingus. The prices were doable thanks to some money my mother left after her passing, just to me for something fun.
"So I wrote the email to apply for Theo from the charity using the PAW direct application form and waited to hear what would happen. The lovely people at PAW wrote to let me know that he had been adopted locally and I was thrilled for him but of course a little part of me was disappointed for us, but the important thing, the only thing is that he has a wonderful home, a whole new life ahead of him which is secure and loving.
"I've always rescued cats and dogs and all of our pets are rescues and of course Theo would have been very welcome and much loved. People who love animals will understand. In the last year, we have lost our cat Kiki and our dog Lucy both aged 14, and we still have Harley and Princess Bella and we will cherish another Christmas with them knowing Theo is safe and happy.
"I think people should rescue as much as possible and be willing to go the extra mile always in life for others There is a pet-shaped love in the world for everyone.
"My grandfather was born and lived in Treherbet, Wales until about the age of seven and I am second generation born in the US. My grandmother was from Ireland and my mother and I have both visited. I imagined for a moment we might be back but it will have to wait for another time."
Friends of Rescue in Derry took Theo, a four-year-old Yorkie in, when his previous owners left him with a vet to be put to sleep as an 'unwanted' pet.
Daniel at the charity said: "Theo has secured the most wonderful, loving home where he will be treated like a king .He's a great little dog and deserves the very best.
"He went from being unwanted to most wanted and we had literally hundreds of people offering to adopt him including a number from America.
"Thankfully people could see he was a valuable and precious addition to a family. He is home now, forever home and he will be forever loved."
Theo had been left with a vet who was asked to put him to sleep after his previous owners said he was 'unwanted'.
He was transferred to the Co Derry animal rescue charity in the hope he might find anew start and when the public was told he had been dumped because he was not wanted, thousands of people responded and hundreds applied to give him a home.
A spokesperson for the charity said: "We want to thank everyone who helped us and encouraged us. Sadly we see far too many dogs left behind, dumped, abandoned, unwanted, neglected and abused and we do everything we can to help them.
"But like every other animal rescue group, we are full to capacity and we are continually asking for support from the public to help us keep going. Otherwise dogs like Theo, happy, healthy dogs with years ahead of them, could find themselves in the most dire circumstances. Every penny counts and every penny is dedicated to the animals we take in."
If you would like to donate to the charity's ongoing medical costs to help animals like Theo you can contact Vets4Pets Crescent Link in person or via phone on 0287131442, click their PayPal link: https://www.paypal.me/friendsofrescue or check out their donation page on the charity's merchandise shop: https://friendsofrescuemerch.square.site/donate
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