Christmas is known as a time of giving and it’s also the time of year when people are more likely to open up their homes to those in need.
And one couple has made the Christmas wish of an adorable three-legged whippet puppy named Roo come true, as they’ve given her a forever home just in time for the big day.
Roo was born with just one front leg and at two months old her previous owners gave her to the Blue Cross charity because they didn’t have time to care for her.
The pooch was placed into foster care to adapt to a home environment and after being put up for adoption, she was quickly snapped up by her new owners, Amanda and Steve Hofford.
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The couple, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, lost their beloved basset hound Mabel just after last Christmas and say Roo has helped fill the void in their lives.
Amanda said: "We had never been without a dog for 34 years so to say that we all felt the loss was an understatement.
"All our previous six dogs had been rescue dogs, so it was a no brainer to rescue again.
"When we saw her on the Blue Cross website, she was absolutely adorable. We read her story and knew we had to try to adopt her. The whole process and understanding to our situation was amazing.
"She was a much wanted and needed addition to our family. Everyone she meets and greets falls in love with her. She is so funny, inquisitive, loving, lively and we wouldn't be without her."
Roo quickly settled into life in her forever home, and she doesn’t let her disability stop her from doing everything a four-legged dog would do.
And Amanda says the adorable pooch loves nothing more than cuddling up on the sofa with her new owners, making friends with other dogs in the park and playing with her toys.
The woman added: "When Roo came to us she had been so wonderfully taken care of by her foster family and Blue Cross that she was a delight.
"She settled straight away on the first day, it was like she had lived here her whole little life.
"She has a front leg missing but this is no obstacle to her at all. She runs around, flies up and down the stairs and does absolutely everything a four-legged dog would do.
"Absolutely nothing stops her, we often forget she has a leg missing as this has never been an issue.
"We have had to make no accommodations to her being three legged because she takes her whole life in her stride and lives it to the full."
Anyone wishing to adopt an animal from the Blue Cross or wishing to make a donation to the charity can visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/christmas.
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