Harper spends her eighth birthday waiting for a home

Jerry Green Dog Rescue is making an emotional appeal to find a home for Harper, an eight-year-old German Shepherd Cross whose life was turned upside down when the owner who loved her became seriously ill.

Harper came into the charity's care four months ago via Lincolnshire Police when her owner, who loved her very much, was receiving palliative care and was sadly no longer able to look after her.

She hadn't been unwanted. She hadn't done anything wrong. She was a loved companion who suddenly found herself without the person, home and familiar life she had always known.

Since then, the team caring for Harper have watched her face every change with the same gentle, happy nature and have been left wondering why nobody has chosen her yet.

Harper has even celebrated her eighth birthday while in the charity's care. While the team made sure the day was special, what they couldn't give her was the one present she really needed: a permanent family of her own.

For a while, Harper did get to experience home life again when she went to stay with a foster family. She settled beautifully, and it gave the team an opportunity to see the dog Harper could be if somebody would only give her a chance.

She rediscovered the simple things that make a house feel like home: a cosy sofa to stretch out on, a garden to relax in, walks and adventures, and people nearby to lean into when she fancied a cuddle or one of her much-loved bottom scratches. Her foster family described her as an absolute pleasure.

She was fully housetrained, calm and respectful around the home and slipped happily into their everyday routine. When they worked from home, Harper became their four-legged colleague, quietly keeping them company through meetings before joining them for a cosy evening on the sofa.

She welcomed visitors into the house with the same good nature. From younger and older guests to tradespeople coming through the door, Harper took new faces in her stride. Once she had said hello and secured a little fuss, she was content to settle nearby while family life carried on around her.

And when Harper is particularly pleased to see someone, there is no mistaking it. Her tail starts wagging, her whole body joins in and she greets her favourite people with what her foster family affectionately called her "happy helicopter".

Those moments show just how much love Harper still has to give. But foster homes are temporary, and Harper is now back in the charity's care.

After once having a home of her own, and then experiencing all those comforts again in foster, the team desperately want to see Harper leave them for the final time with a family who can promise her that she is finally home for good.

At eight years old, Harper still has a wonderful enthusiasm for life. She loves getting out and exploring, enjoys sniffing games and puzzles and is always ready to learn something new. And there are few things guaranteed to make her happier than water. Whether she's out on an adventure or simply gets the opportunity to have a good splash, Harper loves getting her paws wet.

But she doesn't need to be constantly entertained. Some of Harper's happiest moments are the ordinary ones; stretching out on the sofa, pottering around the garden or simply being close to the people she loves. It is that everyday companionship the team now desperately want to give back to her.

Harper is looking for a relatively peaceful home with a secure garden of her own. She would like to be the only dog so she can soak up all the love and attention for herself, and she cannot live with cats or other small furry animals, which she finds far too tempting to chase. She can live with sensible children aged 11 and over.

Harper can sometimes find other dogs overwhelming when out and about, although she has been making great progress and will benefit from a family willing to continue giving her calm and consistent support.

Once she has had time to settle and understands that her new home really is her home, Harper can initially be left for around two hours, with the potential to gradually build this up over time.

Joanne Hickson, Centre Manager from Jerry Green Dog Rescue, said:

"Harper's story really does pull at our heartstrings because this is a dog who knew what it was to be loved. She didn't come to us because somebody stopped wanting her. Her owner loved her very much, but devastating circumstances meant they simply couldn't care for her anymore. Harper's whole world changed through no fault of her own.

Then we saw her in foster and got to watch her become part of a home again. She had her sofa, her garden, her people to follow around and cuddle up to. She was so content just being included in ordinary family life.

That's what makes seeing her waiting so difficult. We know exactly how wonderful she is in a home, and we know how much she has to offer someone.

Harper has just celebrated her eighth birthday with us. Of course we spoiled her, but there was something quite heartbreaking about knowing the one thing we couldn't wrap up and give her was the thing she needed most: a family.

She's already had to say goodbye to one home and one person she loved. We desperately want the next door Harper walks through to be the door to her forever home.

More than anything, Harper wants to belong to someone again. We really hope there is a family out there who will read her story, see that wonderful wriggly girl we see every day and decide that she has waited long enough."

If you have room in your home and heart for a loyal, affectionate girl whose whole body will wriggle with happiness when you walk through the door, please don't let Harper keep waiting. Visit the Jerry Green Dog Rescue website to find out more about Harper and apply to give her the forever home she deserves: https://www.jerrygreendogs.org.uk/dogs/harper/

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