We adopted Fat Max in March 2020.
Max had been at Oakwood for just over a year and always seemed to be overlooked which we could not understand why as he is such an amazing dog with so much love to give.
The staff at Oakwood were very helpful through the adoption process as we were out of area also. The knowledge they have about the dogs and the support on offer during the process is excellent, it was also clear from the visits we did how much they care for the dogs at the rescue.
We went to Oakwood with the intention of adopting max and luckily were matched with him, he is the perfect dog for us so chilled out at home. With his history and being attacked by a dog in Romania there has been some hard work put in but he does so much better around other dogs now.
All of our friends and family comment on how friendly and loving he is.
We are so great full for Oakwood and bringing max into our lives!
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Lois England
We adopted Reggie (was Quincy) 3 months ago. Oakwood matched us up with him based on our application form and they couldn’t have picked a better match for us.
Reggie was nervous at first and when we brought him home he hid in his crate for a week but with time and patience he started to trust us. I can’t explain how much it meant the first time he wagged his tail at us or let us stroke him. We followed Oakwood’s help and guidance to get him used to walking on a lead and going in the car, Oakwood rescue and trainers are always on hand to offer help and advice when we need it! We followed all their guidance to the letter and Reggie is a completely different dog now, he is still nervous of people and in some situations but once he knows you he is the most happy friendly dog you could ask for. We love him to bits and wouldn’t change him for the world. I would really recommend taking a chance on one of their dogs, you won’t regret it.
Thank you Oakwood!
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Lucy and Ben
Me and my partner Ben adopted Chance (Benny in March 21). He has been an absolute bundle of joy and has been the greatest decision we have made. He has come so far from being scared of other dogs and having fear aggression to be able to walk past them with no issues and even have some doggy friends! The work and determination has been tough but the support you receive from Oakwood after the adoption is unmatched. We have been having private one on one training sessions for Chance with Charlotte from Oakwood and she has been amazing. Thank you so much Oakwood for all you do for the dogs you rescue x
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Emma Margetts
We adopted Ted (panda) 3 weeks ago and it is by far the best thing to have happened in the last year and a half. Oakwood rescue were fantastic and patient whilst we made our decision. It was a hard one as could have taken them all ! They matched us very well as knew just the right dog for us. Was pleasantly surprised how clean and well maintained everywhere was. Would definitely recommend them. Lovely people and lovely dogs
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Lindsay Levesley
We adopted Indie on 2 April 2021. She had a kill date of April 12th in Romania and if it had not been for IDR and Oakwood dog rescue we would not have the beautiful, sweet, good natured dog that we have today. From start to finish the process was excellent. Communication was first class. The best interest of the dogs stood out above all else. Please don't let boundary fencing put you off because when it is explained it makes perfect sense. Oakwood are there for both dog and owner before, during and after you have your dog at home.
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Louise
We now have three rescue rommies from Oakwood. Cockle (Anda), Nico and most recently Sandy (Nellie). I will only ever have rescues again. The satisfaction of seeing them relax in a home environment is brilliant. The care and support provided by Oakwood is superb. If you are considering adopting you will not find a better team to support you throughout the process.
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Stacey
We adopted Woody (Star) in January and we are completely IN LOVE with him! He has come on so much, every day getting braver and braver, taking each day as they come. After lots of patience he absolutely loves his walks, he loves to explore and meet lots of doggies!!
Oakwood where absolutely fantastic through the whole adoption process, offering lots of advice on what we should expect and on how to prepare ourselves for our new furry family member. Even now if we contact them nothing is too much trouble, they are always there to offer valuable advice.
My partner and I would like to say a HUGE Thank you to everyone at Oakwood for all their hard work, we couldn’t imagine our lives now without Woody.
Xxx
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Nicole
Oakwood were a great help throughout the whole adoption process. We were only introduced to dogs which suited us. We took Bobby home with us in August 2020 and Oakwood explained his medical issue and were so helpful in making sure he was the right dog for us. We love our Bobby-Boo and life wouldn't be the same without him. He has come on leaps and bounds since bringing him home and is a different dog, but we know Oakwood are always there if we have any questions.
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Alexandra Clark
My husband and I adopted Lulu from Oakwood in December 2020, Oakwood were super helpful and practical in terms of the adoption process and clearly cared about both the dogs and the humans adopting them! It was clear that they would only allow somebody to adopt a dog that was right for them and their home situation and did their best to assess this despite the struggles with COVID.
When we went to see Lulu she was super shy but we just knew she was a complete sweetheart and her true personality was just waiting to come out. The first few weeks while Lulu settled with us were challenging in some ways but Oakwood were there to support us as were other owners who had adopted Romanian rescues. Although the first few weeks had their challenges while Lulu grew to trust us it was amazing each day to see her become more comfortable and settle in with us. Plus it's not like getting a new puppy is a walk in the park!
We are now just over 3 months in and Lulu is doing amazing, we take her on big long walks which she loves, she is learning to play and has such a lovely grin on her face while we mess about together. She has several different bed arounds in the house and loves to stretch out and relax, especially in the sun. It is so wonderful to see how she trusts us now, looking to us when there is something scary for guidance but once we show her it is OK she cautiously goes for it, she is such a brave little hero!
We are still working on a few things like car training and now her confidence has grown she loves to bark at the postman! But we know we will get there with her and wouldn't be without her one little bit. She is just the most loving, amusing, determined little dog and how much she loves living with us just feels so wonderful considering the life she had before. Buying a puppy would have been lovely I am sure, but we wouldn't have saved our amazing Lulu from a life of misery to come and live her best dog life with us and that is just something you can't beat!
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Amy
I came across Oakwood on Instagram as I knew I wanted to adopt. From start to finish they were AMAZING. They were reallt thorough which made me feel assured that they cared about where their dogs were going to. They gave us lots of advice and prepared us for all the ups and downs that can come with adopting a Rommie.
We brought Nala home after falling in love with her on our visit to Oakwood and she is just wonderful. She's doing amazingly well and we have been very lucky that she's quickly settled into her new life. If we have had questions or any issues, Oakwood have given us sound advice and we've never felt like we don't have anywhere to turn. As first time dog owners we naturally worry about most things, but we know that Oakwood are at the end of the phone if we have any questions.
Thank you to Steph and all of the team. You're all amazing for giving these dogs a second chance and we couldn't be happier to have adopted Nala with your help. As I write this she is snoring next to me on her favourite blanket so I would say she's pretty happy about it too.
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Caitlin
Oakwood was so helpful and professional from start to finish on the adoption process. Any questions or concerns we had they could answer them.
We adopted our beautiful Ava (Previously Aca) on the 29/01. She was shy when arriving home with us however day after day is finding her confidence in being a happy dog with a loving home.
Even after having Ava at home Oakwood continues to offer support and help at home with training and being able to contact them whenever we need them for any questions. There is also other Facebook groups with other adopters in from Oakwood where we can share our achievements and updates with each other.
I couldn’t recommend Oakwood highly enough for all of the work they do for the dogs and giving us our Ava. 🐶🤍
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Jessica
I’ve followed Oakwood dog rescue for around a year now and have seen hundreds of dogs rehomed and go on to live very happy lives.
We adopted Fleetwood in January and couldn’t be happier. It was lovely to see his bond with the staff and to see how much they care about each individual dog in their care.
They have been so supportive and kept up with communication since we adopted our boy, he has come on so much in such a short amount of time and learned things beyond we ever thought possible.
We will be forever grateful for the hard work and dedication to the welfare of dogs at Oakwood!
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Gareth Wrightson
Had our little girl 1yr 4mths, it was a very intense process to adopt her. I quitr agree why they are so carefull which gos to there credit. Rosie was very very nervous but settled in quite smoothly. Yes there were a few teething problems but no where near as many as i expected. She is now so loving and follows my wife every where. She loves her coat collection and going for walks. She tells me verbly when she wants to go out wagging her bum furiously. My only regret is that we cannot or have not homed any more. No looking back for us. Wouldnt change a thing. We can only praise Oakwood and all there brilliant staff from start to finnish. Great job , well done by people who care. Its a very big thank you from us xxxxxxx
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Neil thompson
Molly (was Ruby) came to us a scared and timid little dog and she’s now become a superb little outgoing girl with her two big brothers giving her confidence
The home trial process was really good as she got settled in and came out her shell a bit more each day!
When she discovered running is for fun rather than out of fear she sprints everywhere, then when home she’s the snuggliest and laziest dog I’ve ever known 😝 what a little gem
Thanks Oakwood!
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Lyn
We adopted Jasper, was Nova, at the end of October. He settled into our home straight away and surprises us every day. These dogs are worth the effort you have to put in. They are so loving. Jasper has not shown any aggression at all.
Oakwood do a great job at matching you to one of their dogs. We all love Jasper to bits and wouldnt be without him now.
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Katy
We adopted Pippin (wasEbony) 2 weeks ago. It has changed our life. From start to finish Oakwood we're so helpful and professional and their ability to match a dog to your home is amazing. Pippin is the perfect girl for us and her big doggy brother . The love and warm fuzzy feeling you get every time she does something new is amazing..Also the face book support group is lovely so many people in similar circumstances to share milestones and get advice..really can't recommend them enough and thankyou so much for letting us be part of Pippins new life and forever home
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Abigail
I adopted my gorgeous girl in December and now can never imagine life without her.
Although, she was extremely nervous when viewing her, with time and patience, she has started to come out of her shell and always comes for morning strokes!
Oakwood were very professional and talked us through the adoption process extensively. From that we knew we were dealing with a highly professional rescue centre who deeply care for these dogs. They matched us with Maisie and we are in love. It was very straight forward and we know we will have continued support should we need it. These dogs deserve a second chance and I can only thank Oakwood for making that happen. Highly recommended 🐶🥰
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Katie
The standards, care and attention to detail that Oakwood apply to finding their rescue dogs appropriate, loving homes is incredible. Yes, you'll find rescues with less strict adoption procedures but I think its brilliant that Oakwood put so much care into matching their dogs with the right family and home. Getting it right the first time reduces the potential for distress for the dogs and adopters. Our beautiful Maya (was Roxie) has brought so much love and joy into our family, we couldn't imagine life without her. Despite having been a street dog, she has never displayed any aggression, food possession or other antisocial behaviour. She was a little shy to begin and is still finding her confidence with some things but she blossoms every single day. She really has the purest heart and we couldn't wish for a sweeter little doggo. We are eternally grateful to Oakwood and will always continue to support their work rescuing more of these beautiful dogs - every one is a little love story like ours waiting for a chance to happen!
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Chloe & Lula
I got Lula on the 15th of September 2020! Her first day went smoothly with no issues really, she was all for the cuddles while still been slightly weary of her new surroundings, the next day she was very excited when I came downstairs, she had a few whines over night but that stopped after a couple of nights and she slept right through! After a week she was a whole new dog! It felt like she’d been with me forever. I have to say rommies are so loving and all they want it a home to give their love to! So please if you’re thinking of adopting check out Oakwoods available dogs🐶 you won’t regret it and I can say this on behalf of a lot of people! It’s 100% not something you will regret! Changes both your life and the dogs life for the better!
Thankyou Oakwood for bringing Lula into my life xx
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Patricia King
I got Finn from you on 25 January. I fell in love with him from the moment I saw him , more so as he only has one eye. He has settled in so well and I can't thank Oakwood enough . The process from start to finish was so simple especially with it all being done on line and phone calls. Our visit to see Finn was fantastic and the staff are very knowledgeable and answer any questions you might have. If you are thinking of getting a dog then please consider Oakwood.
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Carole Carter
Rocco (previously Coco!) has brought so much joy to our lives. We are forever grateful to Oakwood for allowing Rocco into our lives. He's an absolute joy. Who adores chicken! Chicken kibbles, chicken canned food - we do a mix of his two daily meals, chicken treats, chicken dental sticks. He loves wearing his coat and high vis jacket. Total poser! He's gsined more and more confidence. In the beginning he was so shy. On his walks he'd stop suddenly partway through. So we'd stop and stand too. All that the dogs want is love, kindness, patience. And food! Rocco has two beds. One in the lounge and one in our bedroom. He's the most loving, funny and loyal little boy ever. The Oakwood staff are total stars. Amazing people. All that I can end with is - please don't shop, please adopt. It'll be the best decision of your lives.
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SUSAN LONGHORN
We adopted Coco about 6 weeks ago, she was called Rosie, but soon adapted to her new name.
Adopting her was made very easy by the helpful, caring staff. The training that came with the adoption was brilliant! George was so helpful and helped us sort out any teething problems we had.
We had never had a dog before and I wasn't actually sure that I wanted one. But I fell in love instantly with Coco, and she has brought another dimension to our lives. We enjoy taking her on lovely walks in the park daily, and weekend trips to the beach are a must for us. We love it as much as she does.
We get so much love from her and coming in from work to her and getting up in a morning to see her excitement at seeing us, is just heart-warming.
If your thinking of adopting a dog I cannot recommend Oakwood high enough. They take in all your needs and requirements and find you the perfect dog. And they are so helpful and keep in touch to make sure everything is OK.
It is so nice to have the peace of mind that should any problems arise, I can contact them for advice.
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Jane Ingram
My Son and I are in awe of Oakwood Dog Rescue! Following the recent death of our beloved old German Shepherd Harvey, we had decided not to have another dog. The void our beloved old boy left in our home and our lives soon changed our mind and we have recently adopted our beloved young girl Judy from Oakwood.
Not wanting a puppy or any particular breed, we looked at a few online sites of adopting a young dog and we even went and visited a few dog rescue centres. Oakwood was recommended by an acquaintance and initially I was frustrated as everything had to be done online with Oakwood, but now I know why and what brilliant policies and procedures they have in place when wanting to adopt one of their dogs. Oakwood are so thorough in ensuring THEY find the right family for one of their dogs and they continue to support the family and their adopted dog from Oakwood throughout the rest of the dogs life. Because of this ethos it is very rare the dogs are returned back to them and these dogs stay in their forever homes. This in turn assists Oakwood to carry on rescuing these animals from absolute dire circumstances and in giving them a chance to have a life.
Judy does not replace Harvey in anyway but she does fill our lives and makes our house a home again and in return we just love her and will give her the best life we can give her after all she has been through. Judy has just fitted in so well with our family and home and that's all thanks to Oakwood. Just knowing we have the support of Oakwood gives us the confidence to get the best from Judy. I have never known such a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who work their socks off for those dogs and in supporting Oakwood. A truly remarkable charity - keep doing what you are doing and thank you for giving us Judy!
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keeley dunn
Our journey with Oakwood started when i was 7 months pregnant and wanted some animal companionship to complete our family. I had heard of Oakwood through a friend and gave them a call. I expressed an interest in Fostering a dog over weekend and mid week periods. Oakwood were so helpful and their concerns ranged from the needs of the dog to our situation with an expanding family. They came to our house and assessed our home and garden to ensure the safety of the dog and for ourselves. A few days later we got a call telling us they had a dog who could really benefit from being fostered. I was ecstatic! Oakwood introduced us to an 11 year old Border Collie Cross called Penny. The most beautiful animal i had ever seen. I could tell she had been well cared for at Oakwood, her tail wagged and her smile was infectious. I knew immediately that fostering would not be enough for us, i wanted to keep her.
After a number of weeks we finally adopted Penny. We had discovered that Penny had many issues, mainly with other dogs. Oakwood gave us advice on how to manage her aggressive-looking responses and explained the reason behind them. Penny also had some health issues with her teeth, oakwood offered us help with her veterinary treatment. We took it upon ourselves to rectify Penny's teeth as there were probably many other dogs needing more urgent treatment and we didnt want to take away vital funds.
After 18 months of bliss our world was shaken when Penny was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor. I went to a number of vets for 2nd and 3rd opinions but they all had the same response. Penny was an old dog but she deserved a chance at life, oakwood never gave up on her when they took her on and we wouldn't either.
Penny was given 3 months to live but she was a fighter and carried on for a whole year.
Although our time with Penny wasn't as long as we would have liked im still honoured and grateful that we got to share our lives with Penny. Im an forever indebted to Oakwood for matching us up to Penny.
I would definitely adopt again in the future, their support is first rate and they genuinely care for their animals.
I regularly donate to Oakwood, be it money or dog food.
Thankyou Oakwood. Xxxx
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Jamie and Kayleigh
We adopted our beloved Max in November 2012. We went to Oakwood after spending a lot of time looking on their website and we sat down with them and explained our current situation (lifestyle, pets, children etc.) And they then showed us a selection of dogs suitable for our lifestyle. They were patient and let us spend the necessary amount of time with each dog and then let us take a few of them for a walk. We fell in love with a very skinny 3 legged dog from Romania who charmed us the minute we saw him and we knew there was no way we could leave without him. After a chat with the team and the necessary paperwork was filled out they let us take Max home for the day so we could see how he settled at home, we were genuinely sad to have to take him back but we continued to pick him up over the next few days so he could be with us and we could each get to know each other better. Oakwood were great throughout the process and very supportive their main focus was the welfare of the dog and ensuring you were matched up correctly to ensure any unnecessary distress and upset further down the line. I can't recommend Oakwood enough and their compassion for all if their dogs.
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Hannah
We first came across Oakwood when we volunteered to walk the lovely dogs. On our second walk we were asked to walk Bella, and that was it, love at first sight. On walks she was an absolute delight and I couldn't stop thinking about her. I eventually managed to convince my partner that she was "the one" and that she belonged with us! Unfortunately, Bella had been reserved by another family but she ended up coming back, luckily for us and we jumped at the chance. However, Oakwood were really up front with us and told us that although she's lovely on walks, she could be aggressive at home, very territorial and guarding which was why it had been difficult to place her. However, we wanted to give it a go and took her home on trial for the week, returning her on the evening and it broke my heart every time - I just wanted her home with us! Bella was perfect during this week and we adopted her permanently. Things haven't been totally smooth however, Bella has aggressive moments, and has been known to guard - at first when she was displaying her aggressive behaviour we were nervous to go near her and we struggled to find solutions to this! It really was worrying for a little while, however with support from Oakwood we have learned a range of techniques to help us with this behaviour and she has turned into the most wonderful dog we could ever have asked for. It definitely hasn't been easy, but the outcomes have so been worth it! If you're thinking about taking on a rescue dog, please don't let their past affect your decisions because if you persevere as we have you could find exactly what you've been looking for! She is so settled now, and I honestly can't imagine life without her any more.
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Nicky Walker
This is our story of how we came to adopt a dog from Oakwood Dog Rescue Centre. After seeing their Facebook page and a picture of a scared, yet beautiful looking dog called Ida the decision to offer this dog a secure, friendly home was made.
After contacting the home with our interest in adopting Ida we were offered the opportunity to come along to the home and meet Ida as the first part of the adoption program. We were aware Ida was a Romanian rescue dog and that she had been previously adopted by a local couple, who in their words could no longer interact with Ida, who they claimed was insular and unable to interact with the family.
On our first visit we were sat in the training centre when Ida and 2 other dogs, who Ida was familiar with, were let to wander freely around the arena. Ida kept her distance and hardly cast a glance towards us. She wouldn't even approach when treats were offered, keeping her distance and staying in the far corner of the room. we sat for over an hour, using soothing words and trying to calm Ida's nerves all without her ever approaching within 10 metres of us. She appeared nervous and scared and only approached those workers who had had daily contact with her. We were definitely left with the feeling that in order to gain the trust of Ida we had a long road ahead.
A second visit was arranged and this time we took along our own dog, Amy, to see how the two animals interacted with each other. Ida was once again timid and nervous, she was willing to accept Amy approaching her, but still kept a huge distance from us, despite the offer of treats and encouragement. At one stage, Ida leapt a four foot gate, to get away from our presence. This was clearly going to be a case of a lot of patience and the decision of Ida to gain trust between us. We decided to have a third visit before committing to the adoption program, hoping that Ida would finally accept our company.
This time Ida did come a little nearer, but was skitty and nervous on each approach. However, despite the task in hand we faced, trying to interact with Ida we decided to bite the bullet and adopt Ida with the hope of giving her a secure, loving safe home.
When Ida arrived, she took to her new bed and lay in it always aware of noise and sudden movement. She ate little, but kept to her bed, never trying to interact. We realised we had took on a huge task in trying to gain the trust of her. We were told to let Ida settle in, and not take her for walks until at least a fortnight into her rehabilitation period. She missed Amy not being in the house and seemed agitated and uneasy until Amy returned back from her walk. Ida began eating normally and was now able to receive strokes and neck rubbings without shying away. After a week of non walking we took the decision to take her for her first walk, using a lead and a choker lead in case she panicked and slipped her collar. Expecting Ida to be nervous and ready to bolt we only planned a short walk and were prepared for Ida refusing to walk. Instead Ida took to her first walk with more confidence than we expected, she didn't pull on her lead and was willing to follow Amy's lead. Ida was very jumpy and always looking about at all times aware of all the various sounds around her.After a week on her lead and encouraging signs at home with Ida's confidence growing we decided to let her off the lead for the first time, always a nervous worrying moment, especially with a dog such as Ida. At first she bolted off, bounding along the path, sniffing and searching and wanting to get as far in front of us as she could. To her credit she came towards us when called, but at first still kept a distance from us but with the offer of a teat and gentle words she approached and allowed herself to be put back on her lead. She has a love for other dogs and constantly wants to meet and greet, on or off her lead. On meeting friends and other dogwalkers, Ida was nervous and kept her distance. However after a few days and regular meetings with the owners and their own pets, Ida soon gained more and more confidence, allowing herself to be stroked and fussed, She now
willingly takes treats when offered them, without shying away, she plays happily with other dogs and loves the freedom to run around and interact with people and their dogs.
At home she has become much more social and climbs onto the sofa to be stroked and petted. She is so lively and playful each morning she wakes and bounds onto the bed to play and bounce around. The change in her is dramatic and many people have commented what a huge difference they have noticed in Ida since she first came onto the field. Ida is happier and much more confident in herself especially at home. It has took lots of patience and hard work to allow Ida to become more socialized and to gain the trust and love heaped upon her. It's hard to explain to people what sort of dog she was when we first met her and how she has now become such a loving, happy dog. It shows that the animal you see in the centre is not the animal that you will take home. It takes a lot of time and patience to bring out the true personality of an animal that has lived in an environment lacking in close personal attention due to the number of other animals there and the fact that the workers cannot always give their fullest attention to every individual dog.
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Julie Richarson
In September 2013 we were told to expect the worst for our 14yr old golden Labrador so we decided to take on another dog to keep our 2 1/2yr old Doberman company. I had gone to oakwood to look at another dog only to find that she would not of been suitable for us. I then decided to ask if they had any black Labradors in, they then brought in a beautiful black 7yr old Labrador called Benji, I instantly fell in love with him I knew he was what I was looking for, we went through all the procedures necessary for us to be able to adopt him, in the end we were able to adopt Benji. I am pleased to say that my 14yr old Labrador survived his illness much to everyone's delight, Benji gets on very well with both my dogs and he is now a muched loved loved addition to the family. Thank you oakwood for introducing Benji to us, we couldn't have adopted a better and more loved dog then him.
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David Turner
Wanting to adopt a dog but not knowing where to start was my dilemma. (It also doesn’t help having two cats and a big heart!)
Oakwood Dog Rescue has supported me the entire way (and still is!).
Any questions we had were answered straight away and any problems were solved.
We decided on Rolo to join our family and we were told all about the him, his past, any problems he had (he over reacts with other dogs) and loads of advice and help on how to overcome this.
We was never lied to and they wasn’t 'beating around the bush' as to if he would or wouldn’t fit in with our family.
Rolo settled in quickly during the home visits and we were more than happy to adopt him fully.
Rolo has been undergoing interaction classes organised through Oakwood and also is about to have his first Groom! :-D
The support visits also help us keep on-going with his training and also show that Oakwood are still there to help and care for the dogs which is nothing but commendable.
I would highly recommend Oakwood to anyone seriously thinking about getting a dog! Were even thinking about our 2nd!
Thanks Oakwood! :-D
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rachael hill
We searched our local dog rescues only to meet endless dead ends, either unsuitable size dogs or the dog was reserved, after just about giving in and perusing going to a breeder we found Oakwood Dog Rescue.. After scrolling through several there he was my Timmy!!- now "Charlie Bear!!" it truly was love at first sight! he was my dog! ..well its a year on and he is the centre of my world!! we love him so much! we will never be able to thank the staff, or gill at oakwood enough for completing our family. xxxxxx
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Vicki Barrett
Having fostered several dogs for Oakwood, we realised we'd had a gap in our lives since losing our dog Daisy a couple of years ago. We saw Alfie, a cocker spaniel/chinese crested cross, as soon as he showed up on Oakwood's website and couldn't resist meeting him. It was love at first sight and he has now been a member of the Barrett family for a few weeks. I can't praise Oakwood staff enough; they are always there to offer advice and genuinely care, not only about the dogs, but also about the family who are adopting. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend adopting a rescue dog from Oakwood. THANK YOU OAKWOOD :)
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Steph Kendra
We have just adopted Perry (German shepherd Cross). When we went for our first look at the dogs at Oakwood he was the one that hid behind the chair and weed on the floor and came nowhere near us. But I fell in love. He came to stay for the weekend and everything went smoothly...minus a few toilet problems but at 9months old who doesnt have these problems. We let him come to us not pushing him and letting him get used to us and by the end of the weekend i didnt want to let him go home. Perry then came for a trial week with us as he was to come to work (in a noisy factory) and being scared of thesound the kettle made we wanted to make sure he wouldn't be too distressed. He is now so used to all the noises he just lays on a blanket under my desk for 80% of the day which is nice to know he is comfortable. We have now signed the papers for Perry and he is officially ours. Perry now wags his tail when he first sees me on a morning and loves being brushed. The long walks in the contry seem to be doing him a world of good and he is nearly a confident dog. All of this in just over a week. I can't wait to see what the obedience classes help him to be along with a few more months of settling in.
Thank you everyone at Oakwood for finding us our perfect dog.
Steph and Matt
We adopted Purdy,the negative Dalmation, in February 2013. Purdy is our first dog. Oakwood helped us choose the right dog for our family. Purdy has settled in so well and loves her tlc. Purdy loves her walks, playing with sticks and balls. She is such a lovely nature and loves company and attracts so much attention when she is out and about. With the help of the Dog Trainers at Oakwood, Purdy is overcoming her issues in socialising with other dogs and now has doggy friends. What a turn around in our lives, wouldn't be without her now, well and truly spoilt.
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Marie
I just thort I'd drop you a quick message to say a massive thank you we adopted our boy Bruce back in January 2013 myself and my family will forever in debt to oakwood for finding our gorgeous boy and saving him till we came along he has settled in and feels like he's always been part of our family he's got his paws well and truly under the table ( I wouldn't have it any other way) the support and after care we got and still get from oakwood is amazing again thank you for everything Marie and family xxx
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Carol and Jenny
A huge thank you to Oakwood for finding us the perfect dog. Previously we had a dog from another rescue centre who turned out to be a very troubled little boy who although loved very much was extremely difficult to manage. When we found ourselves looking for a new member of the family I was quite specific about what I was looking for – over 12 months, small, not a breed that may be perceived by others as nasty (due to living on a private estate), a dog that we could really enjoy. Knowing what we had gone through Gill was great at helping us try to find a suitable match. While we waited for the perfect ‘forever’ dog we took Lego into foster – A 6 month old X Staffie! – everything I wanted to avoid. Guess what? He is perfect. Friendly, affectionate, playful, likes other dogs and people. We of course had to adopt him and he is now a much loved member of the family.
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Nicky
I have to say Oakwood are the best by far. The hardest thing was to find the right place to adopt from. Oak wood came highly recommended and even though 150miles away this did not phase them or us or put any hurdles in the way. They rang to arrange the home check and everything went so smoothly. Which is all thanks to the dedication and superb staff. One hundred and fifty mile trip later and we were in love! Once everything was sorted one more trip and we are the proud owners of Dennis! I really cannot stress how helpful, supportive the staff are. Words really can't match just how outstanding they are. They made the whole experience fantastic. Dennis now fits in our family as if he has always been here. Thank you so much!!
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ann-marie jackson
Thank u oakwood for letting us adopt our boy Max, hes a great addition to our family. The after support and free training has helped us and max greatly. and has made the process of a new dog very easy. Most rescues will not let u adopt a dog if u work or have cats or a child under 10. But oakwood are very different they will take everything in to consideration and will find the right dog for u. We are a very happy family now with a very happy puppy :-)
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Martin & Mel
We decided to adopt a dog from Oakwood after hearing great things about them. From the start of the process, when Gill went out of her way to do a home visit in Lincoln, to the day we adopted Scooby, we could not have asked for anymore from Oakwood. Despite having over 30 dogs to choose from Scooby is a perfect match for what we wanted.
We would highly recommend Oakwood dog rescue and feel our family is now complete with Scooby.
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Chantelle
I adopted Bruno (now Bolt) and it was one of the best things I've ever done, my days are now filled with extra laughter between him and my daughter! I thought adopting would be really hard but it was so simple with his best interests always coming first! yes puppies are cute and its rewarding to have trained them but you get double the reward by giving these dogs a second chance and training them! The staff at Oakwood are so kind! They also don't just hand over the dogs you get lots of advise and training which is fantasic! Once again thank you so much for letting me adopt him!
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Little Amy
We got dave when he was just six months old from oakwood he loves anything and everything especially coming back to oakwoods doggy day care it is the only time hell pull on the lead, everyone loves dave as he is huge, dosile and very loving puppy. Hes a fab doggy :)
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Mike & Alyson Milner
Thank you to Oakwood Dog Rescue and all the staff for helping us find the perfect dog for our family. Willow is so gorgeous and funny, a bundle of mischief and gaining confidence. The team at Oakwood are so helpful, kind and caring. The dogs get such an amazing chance through their dedication.
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Carol and James
After losing my much loved old boy the year before, we visited Oakwood to look into giving a home to a dog again. Amy looked after us wonderfully and worked hard to make sure both we, and our new member of the family, were happy.
We attended puppy training classes which our Roxy found a challenge (!) but have proved very effective with ongoing practice and patience. The playgroups provide socialisation and excercise, and lots of fun.
Roxy is a very much loved part of our family and we are looking forward to years of laughs and cuddles with her thanks to Amy and the team.
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Linda and Graham
Having lost our previous dog due to old age we thought we would never have another one. After about a year I (Linda) became terribly dog broody and started to look at ads in the paper, visit dog rehoming shelters etc, we saw Dottie at Carr house rescue, walked her and went home to think things over, our concern was our then 20 month old grandson, we were worried that Dottie might be too big and boisterous for him. When we decided to call back for a second look Dottie had gone! Some time passed and a friend told me about oakwood, I rang immediately, I asked Oakwood for a medium sized dog, good with kids and other dogs, quiet but with a sense of fun,....we have a dog that might suit you they said, she's a greyhound/collie cross called Dottie! it was the same dog, having been shipped to Oakwood due to lack of space at Carr House. Our fate was sealed. We went to visit Oakwood and voiced our comcerns about our grandson, we were told that although Dottie can be boisterous at play she is very calm and easy going in the home. We tried Dottie on walks and at home in our own environment, she fitted in perfectly. 18 month on she is my best friend and I hope I am hers, she is so loving and just wants cuddles and walks, the grand kids adore her. Thank you Oakwood, keep up the good work
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Emma
My fiancé & I first went to Oakwood with the intention of volunteering to walk the rescue dogs. On that very first day we took out Elvis (now Olly) - it was love at first walk!! After serious discussion we rang up & asked if we could reserve Olly, there was no pressure from Oakwood who invited us to go see Olly again along with 2 other dogs so that we could see them interacting with each other & make sure Olly was the one we wanted. After that we took Olly back to our house every night that week for a couple of hours to get him used to us & our home (being rescued from Romania he had never seen a house before). When we decided to officially adopt Elvis it wasn't a hard process & after a home check, a signing of papers, & handing the money over he was ours!
Olly is currently extremely nervous of meeting new people but Oakwood have provided & continue to provide support, help, advice, training, & even 121 sessions to help us with this issue which we are still working on.
I would say if you are serious about getting a rescue dog & are prepared to put in the time & effort needed then please consider using Oakwood. All the girls are lovely - whenever we take Olly for doggy day care he runs in tail wagging to greet them so they must be doing something right!! :-)
Oakwood are an unbelievable Rescue centre who I'd recommend to anyone. We were after a second dog to go with our other rescue dog, (a Staffie) who went through training with Oakwood even though he was not from there. They matched Pippa (a boxer-mastiff) with him perfectly as she needed to be very energetic to put up with him!
The checks they do are there to ensure a dog does not get returned to them so don't get put of and the follow up training they provide is second to none. Don't be put of by the price, far cheaper and more satisfying than a pup. If I had more time, I'd go back and get a third! Do not look anywhere else until you have tried the Oakwood experience.
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Ann streets
From the first time I saw Stanley on the website to adopting him oakwood were a pleasure to deal with professional , knowledgeable & friendly nothing was too much trouble . Stan is now an adored member of the family , you are always available for help & advice & I recommend you to everyone & make sure everyone is aware of you . I am now enjoying coming to walk when I can & wish you all the success in the world you sooo deserve it xx
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Lucy
After going through Oakwoods adoption process I can say I am a very happy customer. Oakwood didn't put any pressure on us to make a decision, everything was done at our pace and we were allowed to bring the dog we wanted home for a home trial to see how he would do. Without this we wouldn't have been able to commit. Oakwood have been extremely patient with my constant questions and queries and offered lots of support settling our new dog in. Their policies and procedures made us feel safe and happy with the rescue. We now have a full house but if the time comes we would definitely use Oakwood again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!