Meet the Accidental Rescuers: How One Dog Changed Everything

The Accidental Rescuers: How One Dog Changed Everything!

Welcome to Thornwood Tales. We were going to start with something sensible. Maybe an intro to who we are, what we do, a bit about the kennels. But then, that’s not really where it began.

We never meant to become dog rescuers.

Sure, we loved animals. We supported adoption. We’d always had dogs around. But rescue? That was for someone else—someone braver, someone with more time, someone with more tissues.

And then came Darcy.

A Boxer girl with eyes that had seen too much, rescued by the team at Saving Balkan Boxer Dogs. She had been used solely for breeding—no walks, no cuddles, no real name. She arrived at our home in March 2019 with a quiet dignity that somehow said, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.”

And she did.

She taught us how to be still. How to listen. How to give a dog the space to feel safe. She took her time—and we let her. Over weeks and months, Darcy began to trust, then play, then love. We didn’t just watch a rescue dog heal—we watched ourselves change too.

And Then the Gate Was Open

Darcy may have been the first, but you know how this goes.

Mr Bear followed—our blind white Boxer who maps the world by heart and sniffs out every patch of sunshine. Then came Jackson the Frenchie, pint-sized gremlin with a motorbike growl and enough cheek for three dogs. And finally Suggs, the bulldozer Bulldog with a face like thunder and the soul of a marshmallow.

They came, one by one, through Saving Balkan Boxer Dogs. Each one was supposed to be the last.

What We Do Now

Now we run Thornwood Kennels. Debbie’s the Kennel Queen (and suspected smuggler of strays). Richard’s the quiet Dr. Doolittle who can settle even the spunkiest soul with a head tilt and a biscuit.

Between us, we always find space for the dogs who don’t have anywhere else to go (yet). We build behaviour plans, restore trust, patch up broken routines, and sneak in cuddles when no one’s watching (Richard claims it’s therapeutic, Debbie claims she was checking their pulse).

But there’s more to it than that.

Transport delays can mean dogs in the Balkans are left waiting—sometimes for weeks. When schedules shift or homes here are suddenly ready, we’re the bridge. We create space, bring dogs in early, and get them ready for collection so they can hit the ground running. It means paws on the floor faster, less waiting, and one more space freed up for the next dog in need.

We’re not saints. We’ve just got a lot of dog beds, a lot of heart, and absolutely no willpower when it comes to “just one more.”

Why We Do It

Because Darcy.

Because she was broken but not beaten. Because she taught us how much it matters that someone cares, even when it’s late, expensive, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.

Because Mr Bear showed us bravery can come in silence. Because Jackson reminded us that joy is loud and silly. Because Suggs insists that grumpy is just another form of love.

And because every dog that comes through these gates brings something with them—something we didn’t know we were missing.

Thinking of Helping?

Do it. Adopt. Foster. Donate. Share. Speak up. Open your home, your wallet, or just your heart.

We didn’t know what we were getting into.

And now we can’t imagine life without it.

Thornwood Tales will be back soon with more stories from the kennels, more everyday heroics, and probably another Boxer who was “definitely not staying” but somehow ended up on the sofa.

Stay tuned,

Debbie & Richard

"We'll always find space for one more."

P.S. We’ve created an Amazon Wish List filled with essential supplies for the rescue dogs currently boarding at Thornwood. From food and treats to bedding and cleaning items, every contribution helps us provide comfort and care while they wait for their forever homes. It’s a simple, powerful way to support—and every item goes straight to the dogs who need it most!