Available

No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone

Mixed Breed · Female · Puppy

When the local dog warden was made aware of a small, white, but sadly filthy dog, no one could have anticipated just how bad a state she’d be in when she arrived. Maple had unbelievably matted fur, to the extent she was unable to go to the toilet. She was hardly able to open her eyes which resulted in them being ulcerated. The matting also limited her leg extension, so walking was very challenging. She arrived late at night, and our dedicated team couldn’t face leaving her to be groomed in the morning. Two team members worked together to gently clip away her fur piece by piece, comforting and reassuring throughout the painstaking five hours it took to remove the faeces and hay matted into her fur. The thing that really hits you when a dog arrives in that condition is the reality of what they’ve been living through. Maple’s coat was solid with matting, faeces, foliage and damp – and the smell was awful. Her tail was so tangled into her coat that she couldn’t even move it properly. We spent around four and a half hours slowly clipping it all away, checking carefully as we went for injuries or anything else the vet simply couldn’t have seen beneath that coat. In places, the matting was so thick and close to her body that we had to work incredibly carefully – it wasn’t always easy to tell where the matted coat ended and Maple began. As we worked our way through it, we uncovered areas of sore, raw skin underneath. Through it all, Maple was incredibly gracious with us. There were lots of breaks, plenty of snacks, and we did everything we could to make an already difficult but necessary experience as gentle for her as possible. It was 11pm by the time we left that night, but that’s the reality of rescue. Dogs don’t need help when it’s convenient, and they don’t stop needing you because the day is over. Maple needed us that night, so we stayed until we had provided all the relief and care we could. Poor Maple was in a terrible way, no dog should be left in that condition. We can only imagine how uncomfortable and scared she must have been. The Hope Rescue centre is open 365 days a year, with on average 3 dogs arriving every day. Thanks to your support we make sure no dog is left behind. If you’re able to give £21 today, you’ll be supporting the next dog that arrives at the centre who needs a cosy kennel, a good meal, and a gentle groom. Please, donate to our Winter Appeal today. Help us keep the doors open to the dogs who have no one else, the dogs who have been left out in the cold. Published: 1st November, 2026 Author: Olivia Copner Help us bring stray dogs In From the cold this winter. Olivia is a Kelpie cross Collie looking for her forever home. Tarot is a Border Collie cross looking for his forever home. Chess is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross looking for his forever home. Join us for a festive curry and quiz night this December Enjoy fantastic live local bands, festive games, special guests and mince pies. Help give a Hope Rescue dog some joy this Christmas by sending a shoebox full of treats. Get ready to pull on your festive finest and join us at Barry Island for the Hope Rescue Santa Run 2026 Are you coming? Oh yes you are! When a Cocker Spaniel arrived at Hope Rescue, it was immediately clear that she needed urgent care. David Murphy's elderly dog Cora was found suffering with severe untreated skin disease two days after Christmas, she has now living out her golden years in a Hope Rescue foster home. We have contacted our valued supporters to let them know about a recent cyber security incident involving the organisation that manages our supporter database. On 17 March 2026, the Welsh Government voted to end greyhound racing - now we're making sure no greyhound is left behind and adding our voice to the call for a UK-wide ban. This was one of the most challenging and distressing cases our experienced team have been involved in. Not only from the sheer number of dogs but also their condition. Discover the Hope Rescue dogs waiting for their forever homes. Find out more about adopting a dog with Hope. We have a number of dogs that would benefit from a foster home rather a kennel environment. If you live in the South Wales area and would like to find out more, please get in touch. To check if we have your dog at our centre, please contact us directly on , 8am to 8pm, or email . You can also check on our Facebook page. Since 2005 Hope Rescue has been saving the lives of stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs that, through no fault of their own, need a second chance. We're always looking for donated items like blankets, treats and toys. Explore the volunteering opportunities with Hope Rescue. Help make a difference for the dogs in our care. Our charity shops are based in Pontyclun, Blackwood, Cowbridge, Talbot Green and Pontypridd for shopping and donations. Willow is a Border Collie looking for her forever home. Our official Hope Rescue partnerships programme has a range of packages that have been created with exclusive benefits to make supporting and Hope Rescue easy and mutually beneficial. Read more Published: 27th January, 2024 Updated: 2nd October, 2026 Author: Stuart McCarthy-Thompson Explore the volunteering opportunities with Hope Rescue. Help make a difference for the dogs in our care. Read more Published: 1st March, 2024 Updated: 6th July, 2026 We take dogs irrespective of their breed, age or condition and with your help, we can continue to help more dogs in need. Read more Published: 28th January, 2025 Updated: 28th October, 2025 Author: Mike Walmsley Are you up for the challenge? Read more Start: 30th September, 2027 at 12:00am End: 10th October, 2027 at 12:00am Published: 5th May, 2026 Updated: 11th August, 2026 Author: Katie Hedges Location: Mount Kilimanjaro Help us bring stray dogs In From the cold this winter. Read more Published: 1st November, 2026 Author: Olivia Copner © 2019-2024 Hope Rescue | All rights reserved

Size

Small

Age

Puppy

Location

🇬🇧Pontyclun

Shelter

Hope Rescue

Cared for by Hope Rescue · Pontyclun Learn about Mixed Breed →

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Listed 2 days ago

Bringing No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone home

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About No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone

What life with No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone looks like

No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone is a small puppy mixed breed dog waiting at Hope Rescue in Pontyclun.

Puppies need routine, gentle socialization, and roughly two short outings a day for the first year. The first six months are the formative window — house-training, leash work, and quiet exposure to traffic, other dogs, and unfamiliar people happen now or not at all. Expect early-morning wake-ups and a few months of chewing.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

Pontyclun, United Kingdom — browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Hope Rescue handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Hope Rescue will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?: Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone isn't the right fit?: Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Hope Rescue early rather than rehoming privately; they know No Dog Should Spend Christmas Alone and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?: TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.