When I first arrived home with Nigel, my rescue dog, I distinctly remember watching the Brit Awards together. He didn’t care much for the performances, but - despite being a former street dog - made himself right at home on the sofa and began snoring deeply. The exhaustion of the long drive and the new sights and smells of London lulled him into a deep sleep and I began to absorb how my life was going to change in between questionable presenting patter and popstar performances.
I grew up with rescue dogs, and always knew I’d want to adopt when I got my first pet. Turns out, I’m not alone in wanting to rehome a pet instead of buying one. According to new research commissioned by Mars, while a whopping 65% of people in the UK own a pet, 58%* haven’t adopted their pet from a rescue centre or shelter – despite a third of people wanting to.
So with pet adoption widely considered a fulfilling way to grow your family, what’s holding people back? For most, it’s the unknown: everything from a potential pet’s background to the more practical things like what to feed a new pet and how to best settle them into their new family.
Regardless of whether you buy or adopt, becoming a pet parent is a big decision, so it’s important to equip yourself with the right knowledge before taking the leap. And with many prospective pet parents wanting to adopt, Mars has launched its Clearing the Path campaign to provide expert guidance and help more pets find loving homes with prepared and confident owners.
Coinciding with the annual Mars Global Adoption Weekend, taking place this October, the brand has curated an Adoption Hub packed with expert advice and tools that can help you find a local shelter and start the journey towards finding your new best pal.
One major area that continues to stump pet parents nationwide is how to pick the right food.
In fact, research from Mars showed that nearly three quarters of adopting owners change their pets’ diets after bringing them home**, with nearly half** wanting more expert advice to manage the transition. That’s why the brand has collated guidance from vets and pet nutrition experts on their Adoption Hub to cut through the head-scratching and conflicting internet opinions.
Meeting Nigel
I always knew I’d adopt a dog at some point in my life, but it wasn’t until I was later in my career, when I was living alone that it finally felt like a real possibility. I’d had a rough few years but felt like I was now in a place to offer a dog that hadn’t had the best start, a loving home, as well as bringing some much-needed joy into my life. As cheesy as it sounds, I knew that Nigel was my dog as soon as I saw him.
He wasn’t any particular breed, had a scruffy beard and eyebrows, and didn’t seem to realise quite how big he was – which resulted in some extreme clumsiness. The shelter suspected he had been a hunting dog, abandoned at the end of a season (or for being bad at his job). When they found him he was roaming the streets, returning to the same kebab shop night after night where the owner was feeding him scraps of meat. Somehow despite his poor treatment, he continues to be the most confident, chilled-out pet.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely made some mistakes while I was settling Nigel in. I was so excited to have him home that I introduced him to too many people too soon and widened his little world before he was ready. Now I know the 3-3-3 rule, which makes recommendations for newly adopted dogs in the first three days (decompressing,) three weeks (setting a routine) and three months (feeling at home) after adoption.
Thankfully, the shelter I adopted him from provided thorough support and reassured me that most dogs have their ups and downs as they get used to their new homes. Instead of panicking, I was patient and adapted to Nigel’s pace. Even when he took it upon himself to repot my houseplant.
I don’t have any regrets about adopting Nigel, but looking back on the experience now, I do wish I’d known what a minefield finding the right food can be. Having something like the Mars Adoption Hub might have saved me time researching countless diets and their respective pros and cons, along with wading through the hundreds of comments from pet parents weighing in.
The impact Nigel has had on my life goes far beyond companionship. The happiness and fulfilment of seeing my big scruffy street dog take up the entire sofa and snore with the gusto of a hundred grandads is immeasurable. To see him feeling so safe, secure and loved after such a difficult start is pure joy. There’s something special about rescue dogs. Each one has its own unique personality, history and spirit and – often – a real desire to love and trust again when given the chance.
Thinking of adopting a pet? Visit the Mars Adoption Hub to find a shelter local to you and gather helpful resources for the journey ahead.
