DOGS TRUST Cardiff is celebrating the happy rehoming of Kola the Labrador Cross, who spent more than 600 days with the charity before finding her happy place in time for Christmas.
Having arrived with Dogs Trust as a stray in 2023, it quickly became clear that due to Kola’s tough start to life, she would need extra support from the Dogs Trust team before finding her forever home.
With a bespoke training plan designed to help with her anxiety, her struggles around settling in a home, and her worries about traffic, loud noises and other dogs, slowly but surely, Kola began to relax and learn how to live like a happy dog.
However, with several adoption attempts falling through, the Dogs Trust team turned to foster care. This gave Kola the chance to adjust to life in a home environment and make huge strides in becoming more comfortable with the big, wide world. She even spent last Christmas with her foster carers.
After more than 600 days with Dogs Trust Cardiff, Kola’s training paid off, finding her forever home in May 2025. Before her adoption, experienced dog owners Marie and Lucas took the time to build a relationship with Kola, giving her the confidence to enjoy life as a happy, playful dog. As the owners of a Doberman, Zeus, who was also adopted from Dogs Trust, Marie and Lucas were also able to give Kola a well-behaved companion to help show her the ropes in her new home.
Speaking about Kola’s adoption, Marie said: “Kola has settled into our home so naturally, it feels as if she’s always been part of our family. She’s gentle, clever and full of personality, and watching her confidence grow each week has been such a joy.
“She and our other dog, Zeus, adore each other, and seeing them play together has been one of the highlights of bringing her home. We’re incredibly grateful she came into our lives.”
Kim Davies, Manager at Dogs Trust Cardiff, said: “After more than 600 days with us, we’re so pleased that Kola has found her happy place.
“Kola’s rehoming story is a great example of how the right care, training and the impact of foster care can help a dog find their forever home, regardless of their background.
“We have so many dogs just like Kola who are still looking for their forever homes, so if you are interested in welcoming a dog into your life, please visit our website or visit us in person.“
If you are interested in giving a dog like Kola a happy place this Christmas, Dogs Trust Cardiff is open to the public five days a week, and you don’t need an appointment to visit, meet dogs looking for homes, get advice or apply to adopt.
As every dog is unique, finding the perfect match can take anything from a few weeks to several months. You only need to apply once every three months, and the charity will do all it can to find the right dog for you, however long it takes.
To find out more about the dogs available for rehoming visit the Dogs Trust Cardiff website.
