Her name was Lola....
Every rescue dog has a story to tell, and Lola has one that would easily make a bestseller.
In 2019, Little Lola started out her life living on the streets of Hui Hin (a beach resort town in Thailand). She was discovered as a tiny puppy with a broken spine, most probably caused by a motorbike collision, or a hard cruel kick. Her wounds were so bad that leaving her on the beach just wasn't an option. Luckily for Lola, she caught the attention of Pawss who took her in and lined her up with a safe, loving home. Sadly, circumstances conspired against Lola, and the impact of Covid meant travel just wasn't an option.
PAWSS reached out to the Jai Dog Rescue team, who were known to have a wealth of experience looking after disabled dogs, and she was soon on The Farm undergoing rehabilitation and able to recover from her trauma whilst waiting for a forever home.
It's a Wunderful World
Fast forward to September 2022 and Lola finally arrived in the UK to be fostered by the wonderful Kasey at Wunderdog Rescue. If you don't know Kasey and her team of 'wonky dogs' (as she affectionately refers to them) where have you been?! Kasey is nothing short of a hero (sorry Kasey, I know you'll hate me for saying this!) when it comes to fostering and adopting some of the more challenged rescue dogs. I've had the pleasure and honour to photograph Maggie the Wunderdog on several occasions as well as Maggie's extended family. Lola was always going to be in safe hands.
Committing to take on a dog with special needs like Lola is not as straight forward as adopting most rescue dogs, and the search for her forever home was always going to be more difficult. Choosing to have Lola as the cover girl for the 2023 Haute Dogs calendar was an obvious choice. It provided another platform to raise awareness of her story and the ongoing search to find her the home she so deserved, alongside all the other Jai Rescue dogs featured and looking for homes.
When it came to her big day, Lola took her lead (no pun intended) from Maggie, and there was quite literally no stopping her! This little lady knew how to work the camera, and like a lead singer with her backing group, she was a star in the making! Lola's foster family took turns to model some of the hats, all doing their bit to support the calendar and Lola.
Happy ever after
If ever a story needed an happy ending, it was Lola's.
It's been a long journey for this little pup found desolate and broken on a beach in Thailand. Enter our next superhero and new mum to Lola, Sian @_thepetbutler_
Sian had followed Lola's plight and knew that she could offer her a safe, happy, loving home. With two dogs already in the family, Lola was instantly made welcome by Maddy and Libby - it was as if their long lost sister had been found! The three of them were instantly as thick as thieves, loving life and living it to the full. Well done Lola, and thank you Sian, Maddy and Libby!
If you ever need reminding that the world is full of kind, caring people, please do remember Lola's story. By purchasing a calendar you'll see her sweet face every day, and be saying thank you to each and every person involved in this story and project. From the marvellous Awon Golding who is the driving force behind Haute Dogs, to all the milliners, rescue volunteers, designers and sponsors who have gone the extra mile.