It was around three in the morning at Cobham Services when James first saw Paco. Several families were gathered beneath the motorway lights, all waiting for a vehicle carrying rescue dogs that had travelled from Cyprus by plane, road and ferry. Everyone was tired, but the anticipation was unmistakable.

When the back doors finally opened, Paco was frightened but curious. He had spent hours surrounded by unfamiliar people, animals, noises and smells, yet something seemed to pass between him and the man waiting to take him home.

"Paco looked at me and I looked at him, and he seemed somehow to know that I was waiting for him."

James offered him chicken and rice, then watched as Paco cautiously sniffed around before jumping into the boot of the car. On the drive home, he sat upright and alert, taking in the final stage of an extraordinary journey. Once inside the house, he explored every corner. As it was so late, James slept on the sofa beside him, helping him settle into a place that would soon become his own.

James and Sarah were thrilled to meet him, but they also understood something important: Paco did not yet know who they were, or that he was finally home.

Finding Paco

The couple first heard about Dali Organized Group - D.O.G. Rescue Cyprus - through a friend who had already adopted two dogs from the organisation. Both were wonderful, and her experience gave James and Sarah the confidence to begin looking for a rescue of their own.

On the group’s Facebook page, dogs looking for homes were introduced through photographs, videos and information about their personalities. James and Sarah found themselves choosing between Paco and another lovely dog named Lucy. Lucy was around four years old, while Paco was much younger - approximately a year old when they first saw him.

They felt a younger dog would be the right fit, giving them the chance to be part of more of his formative years and help him develop into a settled, confident family dog. But there was also something less tangible at work. Paco’s face, his manner in the videos and the glimpse of personality they could see simply drew them in.

The practical arrangements offeredr eassurance too. D.O.G. Rescue Cyprus organised Paco’s neutering, vaccinations, documentation and pet passport, and explained the adoption and transport costs clearly. Choosing a dog through photographs and videos might sound uncertain, but James and Sarah’s instinct proved to be right.

Very little is known about Paco’s early life. He was found on the streets and spent almost six months at the shelter before making his journey to Britain. When he arrived, old scars and scabs suggested that life had not always been kind to him. They healed within a few months, but parts of his past would reveal themselves in quieter ways - through the things that frightened him and the reassurance he needed.

Learning to Feel Safe

During Paco’s first weeks in Chiswick, everything was unfamiliar: the house, thel ocal streets, the weather, the sounds and smells, and the two people now caring for him. James and Sarah focused on giving him space and establishing a gentle, consistent routine.

He was timid around people he did not know, particularly small children, and loud noises such as trains and noisy cars made him uneasy. Paco was also anxious about being left alone. At first, James and Sarah could not leave him for any length of time, but patience and training gradually helped him understand that they would always come back.

Some things came quickly; others took longer. Every small step felt significant. Over time, the quiet, hesitant dog began to show more of himself. Paco is now deeply affectionate, mischievous, loyal and protective. He has also become much more vocal - something his owners see as a sign that he feels secure enough to express himself and has a home he wants to protect. One of the clearest signs of his progress is that he can now be left at home calmly. He no longer destroys anything and is usually found sleeping by the door or curled up somewhere cosy when James and Sarah return.

"The most rewarding part has been watching Paco learn that he belongs."

For James and Sarah, trust was not created by one dramatic breakthrough. It grew through ordinary days: peaceful walks, familiar routines, afternoon naps and the excitement of being reunited. Those everyday moments showed them how far Paco had come.

Then one morning, a small accident made that sense of belonging impossible to miss. The house still had baby gates at the stairs, left by the previous owners, and the couple had kept Paco downstairs while he settled. One night, they accidentally left the gate open.

Paco did not notice until the next morning. He appeared at the top of the stairs to let them know he was awake and needed to go outside, pushed the gate open with his nose and came catapulting onto the bed, full of cuddles and kisses. Then he flopped down as though he had always belonged there.

It was one of those simple, joyful moments that said more than words could: Paco was no longer an uncertain new arrival. He was part of the family.

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A New Life in Chiswick

Paco’s personality now shapes the rhythm of the house. He loves having his chin scratched and begins many mornings by diving from the deck into the garden. He chases squirrels and foxes with great enthusiasm and is fascinated by almost any food he discovers on the street.

He has also become an important companion. James works from home, while Sarah is often away with work, so Paco and James spend much of their time together. Paco gets him out of the house, joins him for cuddles on the sofa and sits through what James cheerfully describes as terrible television. They also enjoy going to the pub together.

Although James was the first person Paco met and the bond between them formed quickly, Paco has become equally close to Sarah. It is just the three of them, and he has no shortage of attention.

He has changed their routine, encouraged them to spend more time outdoors and introduced them to people they might never otherwise have met. Most importantly, he has become a much-loved member of the family. James and Sarah may have given Paco a home, but they feel he has given just as much back.

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Giving a Rescue Dog a Second Chance

James and Sarah’s advice to anyone considering an overseas rescue begins with research. Personal recommendations helped them find D.O.G. Rescue Cyprus, but prospective adopters should also ask questions and choose an organisation that is open about a dog’s known history, health, temperament, travel arrangements and costs.

Realistic expectations matter too. A dog arriving from overseas has experienced an enormous upheaval and may need considerable time to decompress. The dog who steps through the door on the first day may be very different from the one whose full personality appears weeks or months later.

Patience, structure and space are essential. New arrivals should not be overwhelmed with visitors or too many unfamiliar experiences at once, and professional support can be invaluable if behavioural or medical concerns arise. Progress may not always be perfectly smooth, but watching an uncertain dog become a happy and secure member of the family can be extraordinarily rewarding.

"Please don’t judge me only by what happened before you met me. Give me time, make me feel safe and let me show you who I really am."

That, James and Sarah believe, is what Paco would want people to understand about rescue dogs. They may arrive withu ncertainty or fear, but they also have an enormous capacity for affection, trust and happiness. A second chance can completely transform a dog’s life - and enrich the lives of the people who welcome them.

Paco’s journey began on the streets of Cyprus and carried him across Europe to amotorway service station in the middle of the night. Today, it continues in Chiswick: in the garden e

A heartfelt thank you to James and Sarah for sharing Paco’s story with us. We would also like to give a very big thank you to Creature Comforts in Chiswick for putting us in touch with them.