TAILS are wagging at Dogs Trust as they celebrate one of their longest-term lodgers being adopted by her old canine carer who couldn’t bear to be without her.

Nine-year-old Terrier Cookie was in the care of Dogs Trust for over three years after originally being found as a stray. She first met her canine carer, Ella Hooper, at the Evesham Rehoming Centre in 2016 who fell in love with her quirky ways. They enjoyed endless hours of trick training and Ella worked hard to make Cookie feel safe and comfortable to overcome some of her worries.

Ella, who lives in Cheltenham, always dreamed of adopting Cookie, but sadly couldn’t offer her the home environment she needed at the time, so they made the most of their hours together every day at the rehoming centre. The devoted duo were sadly separated when Ella left Dogs Trust in 2018 to pursue a career in the zoo industry.

But, just under a year later, circumstances changed for Ella and, after her pet cat, Sheridan passed away, and moving to a different home, she was able to put the wheels in motion to bring Cookie home.

Ella explained: “The minute things changed for me, I couldn’t wait to give Cookie a loving ‘furever’ home. From working so closely with Cookie I became so attached to her, and I was so sad when I moved onto pastures new. I thought about her every day and kept my eye on the website – it broke my heart to see she still hadn’t trotted off to a new home. After my circumstances changed, I just knew I needed to adopt her, I couldn’t live without her.

Cookie needed quite a specific home and someone who was willing, and able, to put in the training Cookie needed to help her manage her behavioural as well as medical needs.

Ella said: “Cookie’s name is so apt, as she really is one smart cookie and she hadn’t forgotten some of the old tricks I’d taught her. She’s not your typical lap dog though and even though she is attached to me, she’s only happy with fuss on her own terms and certainly has me wrapped around her little finger."

“We’re making progress with her on walks, and she’s gradually learning that new people aren’t so scary and that there’s so much out there to sniff.

She keeps me on my toes, but I love it! After such a long time in kennels, I wondered how she would settle into home life. But she has done so well and has her own little bedroom so she can chill out and have her own space when needed."