From Sanctuary to Special Home: Oliver's Adoption Story

When Zoe first saw Oliver’s photo in a charity shop window in Lincolnshire, she had no idea that a simple holiday moment would change her family forever. Oliver had been waiting patiently for three years at Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary, hoping someone would see just how special he was. We had actually met Oliver ourselves when we visited Fen Bank last year, so it’s incredibly special to now be telling the story of how he finally found his home.

That all changed when Zoe and James came along, and this is the story of how one very special greyhound completed their family:

Finding Oliver

"Whilst I always wanted another dog, it wasn't something we were actively considering, until I spotted Oliver’s photo when on holiday in Lincolnshire. He was being advertised in the rescue centre's charity shop and had this eager little pose, like he was trying his absolute best to convince someone he was special enough to take home. And that was that. James needed a little more convincing — he was mostly worried about how a new dog would bond with our other dog, Skye.

I went to visit Oliver a few times, and each visit made things clearer. He was so loving from the very beginning and I felt an instant connection with him. When we brought Skye to meet him, they did really well together, which was such a relief and felt like the final sign that he was meant to be part of our family.

Bringing Him Home

Oliver came home with us at the end of November, and we’re now approaching three months together. 

He’s settled in beautifully. He sleeps and eats well (very well!), loves his snoozy days at home, enjoys long family walks, and has taken great pleasure in chasing Skye around the dining table. He got to spend his very first Christmas as part of a family, and had his own Christmas dinner too. 

He’s incredibly loyal and so full of love. If we’ve been out, he's so excited to see James and I, and we've built such a strong bond already.

Of course, he has that common greyhound trait which has earned himself the affectionate nicknames 'Mr Stinkers' and 'Ollie-pops'; we weren't quite prepared for the number of gassy emissions! But we wouldn’t change him for the world. 

Rehoming a greyhound has been such a positive experience for us. They are gentle, affectionate, surprisingly calm dogs who adapt so well to home life and really just want a comfy bed and their people. If anyone is considering rescuing but feels unsure about greyhounds, we would wholeheartedly encourage you to meet one — they might just surprise you in the very best way, like Oliver did for us."

Zoe, James, Skye and Oliver Proehl 

Adopt A Greyhound Today!

A heartfelt thank you to Zoe, James, Skye and Oliver for sharing their wonderful story. Oliver’s journey from waiting patiently for three years to spending Christmas in a loving home is a powerful reminder of just how life-changing adoption can be, for dogs and families alike.

If you’re thinking about welcoming a dog into your life, why not consider adopting? View our adoption platform here! And if you’ve already given a dog a second chance, we’d love to hear your story too. Send your story to [email protected]. Sharing these journeys helps more dogs like Oliver find the homes they’ve been waiting for.