Happy Endings!

If you have adopted an animal from HULA we would love to hear from you. Please send photos and a brief update to: send e-mail

Alternatively, please feel free to share your update via our Facebook group.

TILLY & DUSTY

Adopted February 2010 and October 2007

Tilly the Cairn Terrier Cross arrived at the Sanctuary in January 2010.

She was only with us a short time before she was spotted by HULA supporters Vanessa & Richard who took a shine to her.

Tilly soon found herself in a lovely new permanent home.

She joins their other HULA dog, Dusty, who was adopted in 2007 and as you can see they are already firm friends.

Photo of Tilly and Dusty

CO CO (formerly Snowy)

Adopted November 2009

Co Co is a little gem. At first she needed some training at home as she was very excitable and didn't really know how to relax but with some positive and calm energy and some patience she made progress very quickly.

We walk a lot with Co Co - she particularly loves the woods but any outdoor space where she can play will do and she is in her element. She also loves her ball!

Initially she was not very good at socialising with other dogs but that too has changed. Many of our friends have dogs, big and small. Once or twice a week we take all the dogs (5 or more of them) to the woods for a good 3 hour walk. All the dogs are just fantastic together and now Co Co really enjoys the other dogs company - especially the boys! As long as she has been introduced properly with other dogs there is never a problem.

She has really settled in now and is a fantastic part of our family.

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to give Co Co the loving home she deserves.

Zoe Castle & family

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FELIX

Adopted January 2010

Just to let you know how Felix is getting on in his new home, we cannot believe how quickly he settled in, even in the first couple of hours he had investigated the house and decided he would make it his own.

What a character he is - so affectionate and funny. We cannot believe he would make such a difference to the household in such a short time.

We never know what he will get up to next but it always amuses us.

Thank you so much HULA.

Chris and Ann Freeman

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PATCH

Adopted December 2009

Just to give you an update on Patch who moved in with us in December. He is fantastic and has settled in well. He did have a few trust issues at first and we have all worked together to help him to get over his tendency to bite and scratch when he gets stressed and have made excellent progress.

Photo of Patch's outdoor companions the hens

He's got a thing about alarm clocks or anything that goes beep. He has decided that the outdoors is something for braver individuals and spends most of his time in bed, snuggling up to the radiator or joining in whatever is going on in the house.

He has one funny little quirk and opens doors: any doors from kitchen cupboards to wardrobes. He looks in and sniffs inside before wondering off, so you can come home and imagine that you've been burgled!

He is a wonderful companion and enjoys sharing his time with us as we do with him. I'm sure we will have many happy years together and thank all at Hula for getting us together.

Julia and Phil Gibbs

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JASPER

Adopted December 2009

I thought you might be happy to have news of Jasper, who is doing fine. He has settled in incredibly easily despite being nervous at first of everyday household noises; a lovely cat who now sits on our laps for a short period of time and loves being fussed. As you can see he loves the sofa.

He likes his breakfast as early as possible and then runs around the house in a mad half hour! [make that all morning]

Thank you for Jasper who has been a wonderful addition to our household.

Jim & Barbara Wilson & Family.

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CHARLIE

Adopted September 2009

In March 2009 a stray cat was brought into the Sanctuary and given the name Lilly. She was pregnant when she arrived and gave birth to a litter of 5 kittens in May. This beautiful picture is of Charlie one of her kittens enjoying his first play in the snow!

MAGGIE & MILLIE

Adopted August 2008

Maggie and Millie have now been with us for about 15 months and I thought you'd like to know how they're getting on.

Well, all I can say is there's no worrying about them not feeling settled or anything of that sort. They're both MORE than settled. They both sleep a tonne, literally wherever they like; wardrobes, washing baskets and rugs. They have their mad moments in the evenings usually and Millie is still rather obsessed with water, "we don't do drinking from a water bowl I'll have you know, too common"!

They left the Christmas tree well alone this year but loved their Secret Santa presents from friends.

Maggie and Millie rub along absolutley fine with our other two girls, Ria and Tia, however Tia, being a Tortie, is still in a strop at their arrival all this time later but gets better each day once she realises we do still love her the same and that M&M are actually scared of her.

We really couldn't have asked for two friendlier cats they're just so loving and have great personalities. Maggie is still very enthusiastic about cuddle times and takes them very seriously whereas Millie likes a comfort cuddle and once she's sleepy enough will get down and find her place to sleep for a little while more.

CAGNEY & LACEY

Adopted April 2009

Sisters Cagney and Lacey were rehomed from HULA in April 2009. Here's what their new "Mum" had to say.

"They have settled in nicely and it seems that they have been with us for a year, not a week! After a few nights of running up and down the stairs and keeping us awake at every given opportunity, they seem very happy and content and have lots of windows to look out of and room to wander about in until they can go outside and explore."

"They really are lovely characters and hope they are as happy as we are to have them."

...we have received an update to say that Cagney & Lacey are now, very aptly, named Misty & Midnight. Here you can see they are happily settled into their new home.

PHOD

Adopted October 2007

Phod came into HULA’s care in October 2005. When she first arrived she was very unsettled and could be quite aloof. As her stay continued at HULA she began to trust and bond with the staff and volunteers.

Although, she only allowed certain people to take her out for a walk – she was quite a character and loved to sit on her bench outside reception and supervise! Once Phod formed a bond, her true character shone through and she was an absolute joy to spend time with. She could be stubborn, funny, loving and was a true one-off.

During Phod’s stay at HULA she was quite poorly, she battled illness with determination & courage. She spent some of her time convalescing in the caravan that HULA have designated for the dogs and volunteers to use for calming sessions. Phod enjoyed watching the TV and admiring her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She also loved to play games & equally just liked to spend time sitting by your side, especially if the sun was out!

Eventually, in December 2006 a wonderful foster home was found for Phod and she continued her recovery with her foster dad Phil, who provided her with a wonderful loving home. In October 2007, Phil decided to formally adopt Phod and she now lives a wonderful life and can often be seen running along side Phil as he rides his bike around the lakes in Milton Keynes.

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POPPY

Adopted June 2009

Poppy, known to everyone at HULA as Smokey, came to live with us on 26th June 2009. We had heard about Poppy from Debbie (HULA Assistant Manager) and had seen her on the website and were looking forward to our new feline addition. She had a fair way to travel from Aspley Guise to Redditch in Worcestershire, but she was calm and well behaved the whole journey.

We had prepared our conservatory (north facing) as a starting base for Poppy to get used to us and to meet our other two cats through the glass doors. We have one other female, Whilamena who is 16 years old, grey and white and very much a lady and very much a loner. She has been with us for 6 years and still prefers to eat and sleep upstairs when she is not outside. Raffles is our large, black, longhaired male, aged about 9/10, nervous of most things, (a cruelty case) and in great need of a female companion. What we hadn't bargained for in Poppy's first week was the weather. It was that dreadful heatwave week which everyone, including Poppy, just hated. We had fans blowing and because we couldn't fully open the windows in case she tried to escape, garden netting over the windows so that we could get some air in. Poppy did not enjoy that week but eat for England from day one and when at last the dreadful heat abated she was a much happier cat.

We introduced Poppy and Raffles after about a week. Raffles was quite interested (as he usually is with girls) but Poppy did not want to know - giving Raffles a hiss or two whenever he came near to her. Not a lad to be deterred, he just took it and continued to try to win her over. He rolls over on his back for her but Poppy is still not very impressed with Raffles. It is early days, Poppy has only been with us just over four weeks and we are still hoping that they will become real friends. Poppy and Whilamena just ignore each other and I guess it will remain that way.

After two weeks Poppy was absolutely desperate to go outside - she had been looking at the garden from the conservatory all that time and was getting very agitated that we won't let her out. So the day came and we opened the door - out she went on to the patio and then back in and this she did for about an hour, after which she ventured into the garden proper and found the pond - cat heaven. That is her favourite spot, sitting amongst the grasses at the edge of the pond and watching for frogs. Its lovely to see her outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine (when we get any) and investigating the wild area we have behind our garden. She is a very clean girl too, after one or two problems in the first week (purely because she was so stressed by the heat) she has not used her indoor litter tray since she has been going outside. When she wants to come in she meows at the back door - clever girl.

Poppy sleeps in the conservatory at night but often in the day time she will take herself upstairs and go to sleep in our back bedroom where she has a double bed to herself. I can't help looking in to see her stretched out full on the bed - a lovely sight. From a bonfire at HULA in the depths of winter and all the health problems that she has had, I think that Poppy has done remarkably well in such a short time.

She is a lovely little cat, who we love very much and hope that she will have many happy years with us and become good friends with Raffles.

Thank you everyone who helped Poppy on her journey to us.

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PATCHES

Adopted 2008

Patches the rabbit is doing very well in his new home. He has two new doggy friends, rough collies called Dizzy and Denzil who are very gentle with him. Patches sits on the sofa and does nose kisses with them. Most of the time he sits on the back of the sofa on his own cushion watching television, if he does not like the programme, he turns his back on the television. He listens intently and moves his ears a lot when animal programmes come on.

He is very affectionate, sits on my knee and pushes his head under my hand when he wants stroking. He is always licking me too. He is very clean in the house and well behaved, never a problem to put back in his indoor house, which is next to the guinea pigs house for company at night and when I am at work.

I hope to get him outside a bit when the weather warms up, as I have bought him a large run to put in the garden and an outside hutch. I am sure he will still want to come in at night to watch his favourite programmes though.

I am sure he thinks that he is half cat, half dog, not a rabbit. He is such an endearing little thing and I feel really privileged to be able to be the one chosen to give him a loving home.

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LIAM AND LENNIE

Fostered May 2007...Adopted December 2007

Liam and Lennie were brought into HULA along with their mother when they were only a few weeks old. They were semi-feral and had missed those vital early days bonding with humans.

They went to a foster home for socialisation where they gradually gained more confidence. It took nearly three months before they were happy to even be touched but thereafter they came along in leaps and bounds. On hearing their first contented "purr" they melted the heart of their foster parent who couldn't bear to be parted from them and formal adoption followed soon after!

As you can see they have made themselves very at home in their new surroundings.

This is a picture of Liam and Lennie in their new home

Another happy ending!

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ZIGGY

Adopted December 2006

Hi, my name’s Ziggy and I am proud to say I am a HULA dog. I am a liver spot Dalmatian which makes me stand out from the crowd. My mummy is one of the people who volunteers up at HULA walking the dogs when she has time and she noticed me when I first came in to HULA from a kennels up in Leeds. I had been picked up as a stray and was very upset and confused at the whole thing, I didn’t like being in the kennels as they were not something I was used to and there was no television so I couldn’t watch Coronation Street. The staff and volunteers made my stay as comfortable as they could and I soon realised that they all had my best interests at heart.

I love treats, especially little pieces of cheese and carrot – I can catch them if you throw them in my direction. I suppose it is something to do with my brown spots and little pink nose, and my different coloured eyes, but everyone always says how handsome I am.

I need lots and lots of walks as I have loads of energy but my mummy and daddy make sure that I get to go out as often as possible to give me some exercise. I especially like the squeaky ball as I can run around squeaking it and drive everyone mad with the noise!

It is thanks to the wonderful work of everyone at HULA that dogs such as Ziggy can find their new forever homes…. Maybe your next family member is waiting for you at HULA now!

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MIKEY

Adopted March 2009

Mikey has been with us for three months now and he has really made himself at home.

He is very affectionate and playful and LOVES cat milk. I get woken up by Mikey every morning when he comes and lays on my tummy for a morning cuddle, he purrs like a little engine.

I have three other cats that are slowly getting used to Mikey, one of them greets him often by touching noses with him.

I had a hip replacement recently and Mikey is always by my side, he follows me where ever I go and him sitting on my lap really makes me feel better too!

I am really glad we chose to take Mikey home with us, he has changed so much since his first day with us. He puts a smile on the face of everyone that visits us because he just can't help rubbing round their legs and sitting on their laps!

*** UPDATE ***

Mikey is still doing very well and has even made friends with two of my other cats now, they enjoy playing tag around the house and sleeping all in the same room!

His personality is wonderful, he is like a little furry human and has become my shadow. I have never known a cat quite like him, he has bought us such joy and happiness . He loves to play and could do so ALL day if he had his way!!!!

He has also found his voice and always greets the other cats (especialy our only girl Moo) with a cute little meow. We think he has a little crush on Moo as he follows her around and tells off the other two if they try to fight with her.

As I write this he is curled up next to me fast asleep! Cant imagine being without my handsome black cat Mikey.
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KIERA

Adopted October 2009

Keira is enjoying life to the full with her new family. Here she is on a day trip to the seaside.

Photo of Keira