Jackie Francais
Meet Jackie Francais – Social Media Manager
My Doggy Journey
As a child, I was completely captivated by animals, especially dogs. I was absolutely fascinated by them! All I wanted was to spend hours at my nan and grandad’s place with their Doberman, Christine. I adored her, and when she passed away, it broke my little heart – I couldn’t understand why they had to leave us so soon.
After Christine, I got to love their next gentle girl, also a Doberman called Doby. Sadly, she passed away with a broken heart when my nan left this world. Despite my constant begging (and I mean CONSTANT!), my parents wouldn’t let me have a dog of my own – they were working all day and knew it wouldn’t be fair. Looking back, they were absolutely right! They eventually gave in and let me have rabbits, which I treated exactly like dogs – they came in the house, I took them walking, and one even used to sit on the fence like a cat!
My First Rescue (Before I Even Knew It!) After leaving home, I found my first dog Bella – dumped in the local park at just 8 weeks old. The police station basically said “she’s yours if you want her,” and that was it – my first dog and my first rescue! I wanted Bella to have company, so along came Zaza the Doberman. These two were absolute partners in crime – they could get into any cupboard or fridge and help themselves! Daily barricades became the norm, but despite being mischievous, I loved them to bits.
The Heartbreak Years We had 11 beautiful years together before saying goodbye – I can’t put into words how devastated I was. It took me 8 years before I could even think about another dog.
Enter Willow – My World I didn’t want another Doberman (felt like replacing), so I fell in love with German Shorthaired Pointers instead. Willow was quite literally my world – our doggy daycare founder who kept everyone entertained with her quiet, calm magic touch. She was so chilled for a pointer, we called her “Chillow Willow”! She traveled Europe with us in the motorhome, creating the most wonderful adventures and memories. When we lost her at 11, my world fell apart again.
But This Time Was Different… Instead of waiting, I wanted to do something positive in Willow’s memory. A friend introduced me to the rescue world – I had no idea there were so many deserving dogs needing homes! The scale of it completely opened my eyes.
Brufus – The Heart Stealer Brufus stole my heart from his photos and story alone. This Vizsla from Zante had probably been dumped for not being “good at his job” and left to fend for himself – chased, shot at, and beaten by locals. After what he’d been through, it felt like destiny – he was looking for us, and we were looking for him! That was 2018, and he’s still his cheeky, spirited self (just greyer, but definitely not wiser!).
Hank – The “I Wasn’t Looking” Dog! Two years ago, I was scrolling (honestly, just looking!) when the Spanish charity posted about Hank – a GSP possibly mixed with Great Dane (judging by his size!). Something grabbed my attention immediately. That gut feeling again – “this is meant to be.” He reminded me so much of Willow, that same look in his eyes. Long story short, we met, instantly fell in love, and couldn’t be happier! He and Brufus are best friends and perfect for each other.
From Now On – Rescues All The Way! That’s it for me – rescues all the way from here on out! Every single one of these dogs has taught me something different about love, resilience, and the incredible bond we share.
