In this beautiful story of connection, Ola shares how adopting a rescue dog gently pulled her out of the rush of city life and into a slower, more grounded way of being.

How did you meet Edel?

” I was the first ever volunteer at Muttlands and my first time around I spent 2 weeks there. After couple of days I realised Edel was standing out – a young, perfectly healthy dog was out together in the zone with Bruno and Tonka, two of our oldest boys. Turned out she was bullied by all the other dogs she had encountered. I had an unexpected bond with her, she was playful, yet so gentle. She was the dog I wanted to adopt when I grow up and settle down – she just came 10 years sooner than I planned.  But it was months later that I made the decision to adopt her.”

What were your first days at home like?

“Edel is a perfect example of 3x3x3 rule – it took first 3 days for decompressing, 3 weeks after that for settling into the routine, and overall 3 months for feeling at home. First days were both exciting and exhausting, trying to accommodate her needs, feeling happy that she’s finally here. Suddenly everything was about her.”

What special memories do you have with Edel?

“When I was saying goodbye to the dogs after my first stay, I said to her: “I’ll come back for you”, and I hadn’t even decided on adopting her at that time. I felt horrible after – you don’t make promises you can’t fulfill! But I couldn’t shake it off during my next travels, I kept thinking about her. So I came back for her.”

How has Edel changed your life?

“Oh, how did she not! She’s slowing me down, grounds me. From someone that always liked the rush of a city, I became a nature girl that takes 2 long walks a day and started hiking. She puts me in a routine. She learns really fast, and adjusts to me a lot. She has quite high emotional intelligence, and I like to think that if she was born in different circumstances, she would make a great service dog. We even laugh that she got me a boyfriend – Edel doesn’t trust men easily, but shortly after I brought her home we got a visit from a friend. She was all over him right away. I was shocked, but I knew she had great intuition. Love just multiplies with her around!”

What would you say to someone wanting to adopt?

“That the decision shouldn’t come lightly. It takes a lot to give them a proper home, and they deserve better than rushed decisions. Dogs are so wonderful and they give us more than we give them in return, no matter what we sacrifice. We’re still in our first year together and we’re still adjusting to each other, trying new things, learning each other. It takes time, and as beautiful as it is to see her unfold her real potentials, it gets hard sometimes, when everyone else is traveling and focusing on themselves, and you’re trying to deal with your dog’s separation anxiety. Living with a dog is great and only gets better, but it requires patience.”

Does Edel have any quirky habits or fun tricks she does?

“Edel is such a little weirdo. You can read everything off her face – her eyes and ears will give you the whole palette of emotions. It’s so funny to watch her frown, worry, and smile like a human. I think she thinks she’s a human. I sometimes think she’s a human. Maybe she is.

When I leave the house, she brings one of my stinkiest shoes to her sofa (yes, she has her own little sofa). She doesn’t chew on it or destroy it in any way – just cuddles it till I come back. So cute..”