It wasnt until I got him home and checked him over that I began to piece together his past.
At times, it was an uphill struggle.
My dad became his safety blanket.
There were a lot of tough days, but there were more good days than bad.
Once Smokey began to settle in, we saw his personality come shining through.
He was bold, bossy, and stubborn.
While also being highly affectionate, with a love cuddling.
He loved to play and pull apart some of his toys.
He knew his own mind and knew who he wanted to take him for a walk.
My husband ended up relegated to the back seat while Smokey sat up front enjoying the view.
Were not really sure how old Smokey was.
Again, the center wasnt exactly truthful about this.
Whatever had happened at the beginning of his life, he forgot about.
It blindsided all of us.
However, the idea didnt go away.
So I started The Smokey Project.
In December 2022, we collected donations and delivered them all the weekend before Christmas to Manchester Dogs Home.
The donations the project received were incredible.
In 2023, the chosen rescue was Dogs Trust Merseyside branch.
The first was in the run-up to the Kings coronation.
The raffle raised just under 100, and I bought hard-wearing durable toys with the proceeds.
Next, the local Jollyes pet store agreed to host a fundraising event in their store in November.
I hope that The Smokey Project can reach more centers and dogs in the coming years.
