By Kat Blacklock MIEP, Learning and Assessment Consultant at the IEP
On National Rescue Dog Day, we’re sharing a moving story from Kat Blacklock MIEP, Learning and Assessment Consultant at the IEP. For those of us working in Employability, it’s a beautiful metaphor: the right support doesn’t just change lives – it transforms them.
Two years ago, we welcomed Fleur into our home – a large, mixed-breed puppy with a big personality and an even bigger heart. We already had an Australian Shepherd, but felt we had room in our lives to give another dog a forever home. Fleur has brought love, laughter, and a fair few challenges. She’s incredibly vocal – more than any dog I’ve ever known – and reactive around other dogs, though all she really wants is to play. With people, she’s gentle and affectionate, following me from room to room and curling up beside me in the evenings. When I work from home, she lies under my desk, keeping me company and alerting me to the postman’s arrival.
Rehoming Fleur hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been deeply rewarding. For her, it meant safety, stability, and love. For us, it’s meant companionship, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose. Rescue dogs, like Fleur, often come with their own histories and hurdles – but with patience and care, they thrive. In return, they offer unwavering loyalty and emotional support. Rehoming a dog doesn’t just change their life – it transforms yours too. Fleur is living proof that second chances are worth it.
National Rescue Dog Day reminds us of the transformative power of support and belief that someone can succeed, no matter the barriers they may have faced in the past.
