The Slow Road to Trust

With a chance to breathe, Suzi began to eat again. She was placed in a temporary foster home, where a simple truth about her was discovered: her absolute, unbridled favourite thing in the world was a tennis ball. The joy of the chase was a tiny pinprick of light in the darkness.

Her journey, however, was still full of bumps. A subsequent foster home had to be cut short when the landlord, despite initial permission, decided he didn’t want “one of those dogs” on his property. Suzi was on the move again, a heartbreaking instability for a dog so terrified of abandonment.

Finally, in February, Suzi arrived at the home of Jola and Karol. This dedicated couple quickly understood the monumental task ahead. Suzi’s fear manifested as crippling separation anxiety; she was petrified of being left alone, believing every departure meant she was being abandoned forever. They immediately engaged a professional trainer, and the three of them—Suzi, Jola, and Karol—got to work.

It was a meticulous, slow, step-by-step process. Little by little, the fearful dog began to feel safe. She learned to cope with a few minutes alone, then a little longer, building a new, essential trust: they always came back. She didn’t have to worry anymore.

The Easiest “Adoption” Ever

Despite the incredible progress she was making, finding Suzi a permanent family proved impossible. The team tried tirelessly, both at home in Ireland and with rescue partners abroad. No one was interested in the sweet, loving, resilient girl who just needed a chance. It was heartbreaking to see such a wonderful dog overlooked.

Then came August. Jola and Karol had gone away on a short, week-long holiday. The text they sent when they returned was unexpected, overwhelming, and the answer to every prayer:

They missed Suzi. Having been reunited with her, they realised they couldn’t imagine their lives without her. They couldn’t, and wouldn’t, let her go. They wanted to adopt her.

Reading that message, the Dogs Angels team cried tears of pure, unadulterated joy. Jola and Karol had given Suzi everything—their time, their patience, their commitment—and now they were saying that Suzi had given them so much more in return.

Is she perfect? No.

But she is perfect for them.

Suzi, the sweet, loving, resilient girl, now absolutely adores her family. Her story is a testament to the powerful, transformative love of a foster family who became her own.

A Few Words from Jola & Karol

Suzi came to us exactly half a year ago.

As a rescue dog, she had many struggles, but her biggest challenge was fear. She was afraid of everything—sounds, objects, new situations… The outside world completely terrified her. It was hard for her to settle or relax. She was always alert, listening, watching—her whole body tense. It was difficult, both for her and for us.

But slowly, over the months, something began to change. As she started to feel safe, we discovered just how funny, clever, and full of personality she truly is. We got to know her little habits, and in her own way, she began to learn about us too. Our bond grew.

There were good days and harder ones. She wasn’t an easy dog—but giving up on her was never an option.

And somewhere along the way, we realized something beautiful: this little soul had completely taken over our lives… in the best way possible.

We feel so blessed that Suzi found her way to us. We only hope that from now on, she’ll always feel safe, loved, and happy—because that’s exactly what she’s given us.