Oxford pets to steal your heart

We at the Clarion are clearly fans of animals – the at-home sorts, the farm sorts, and the outside don’t-touch-me sorts. We also know that we feature a lot of cats, because. Well, because.

But in an effort to broaden animal representation and location (not just cats in colleges!), we thought we’d start a semi-regular update on animals looking for homes in the county. There are at least six animal rescue organisations in Oxfordshire, some with rehoming centres, some that just rely on fosterers.

In our first forever-homes feature, here are animals from three local organisations. Some are recent listees, others have been waiting for their forever homes for a while. If you think you’re the family for these awesome little dudes, please reach out directly to the organisation contact linked in the bios. And, if not these little nuggets, maybe there’s another listee who would be a better fit. Check out the animal sanctuaries' websites!

Wilbur & Edna | Blue Cross Burford

Say hello to the lovely Wilbur and his glamorous companion Edna. This delightful couple are hoping you’ll be the ones to take them home and snuggle up with them on the sofa! This marvellous couple have been in a foster home recently and have had a golden report:

“They’re both delightful and have settled in really well! Wilbur is very much a lap dog, and he takes his job very seriously – every lap in the house has been tested out by him. Edna loves to sit next to you on the sofa and will tap you with her paw if you’ve stopped and she wants more. Wilbur is great at chasing pigeons off the grass and Edna is chief fly exterminator. What more could anyone want?”

This pair could live with older school age children who would like to play a part in their daily routine and maybe sneak them a treat or two – although they do need to lose a bit of weight! They are ideally looking for a multi-carer household so there are enough people to love them but most importantly, more than one lap! Edna and Wilbur will need to be the only pets in their new home so they can take centre stage, and not have to share their people.

Although they are small, these two adventurers certainly like to get their steps in and have conquered many treks in their time, so if their new owners wanted to take them out to interesting and unfamiliar locations to explore, then Edna and Wilbur are ready and waiting with their harnesses on!

If these two are the charming canines you’ve been searching for, please get in touch today.

Hugo | Oxford Animal Sanctuary

What’s great about Hugo?

• Goofy, playful and always entertaining, Hugo will be endlessly entertaining in his new home.
• He is super loving and forms strong bonds with his person.
• He can potentially live with a young, neutered female dog pending successful meets at the sanctuary. Resident dogs must be comfortable living with a boisterous dog.

What Hugo needs:

• A single person home with no visiting children.
• Hugo has previously shown guarding behaviours in the home. He will need management with visitors to the home. Our behavioural team is happy to provide assistance once Hugo is home.
• Hugo has some medical issues that will need ongoing management. The team is happy to discuss this with any potential visitors.
• Bulldog experience or guarding breed experience is preferable.
• A private secure garden with minimum 5ft fencing all around

If you’re a good dog person, Hugo might be a good fit for your home. Find out more here. 

Diamond | Oxford Animal Sanctuary

This little stunner arrived in our care after her human companions were no longer able to care for her. Diamond is a sweet kitty who has found life in the cattery a little tough.

Our cattery team have worked really hard to ensure she has everything she needs to make her feel at ease, and it’s safe to say she’s starting to feel settled now. When you first go into her room, she will be hidden in her little hide bed. She will poke her head out to see what treats are on offer, and if you put your hand out, she will gently rub her head on your hand. Then, before you know it, she’s out in the room looking for attention.

Diamond will need a patient human who understands moving home can be stressful, especially for a kitty! It’s important to stress that having been through so much she will be at her most stressed point so her human companions must be prepared to give her the time she needs to settle.

Diamond has been returned to our care for aggression. She can be challenging to read, as she can come across as very confident, but she really isn’t good with change. We know that moving her to a new home will be stressful.

Her new adopter must be willing to follow our guidance to help her settle into the home. This will include:

• Multiple visits to meet her at the sanctuary
• Access to one room only for 2 weeks
• Taking the hands-off approach and not flooding her with attention
• Experience with cats
• Support from our external behaviourist if needed

Are you a patient cat person, who can commit to slow bonding? Give Diamond a home.

Possum & Wombat | Oxford Animal Sanctuary

Possum & Wombat are a bonded pair of rabbits looking for a home together.

They are both 2-year-old crossbreeds. Possum is female, Wombat is male. They are both neutered and fully vaccinated.

If you’re looking to home a pair of bunnies, you can apply to home them here. 

Luna & Nyla | Cats Protection Oxford & District

Nyla and Luna are two delightful feline ladies whose specialities include expert head bonks, enthusiastic purring, impressive naps, and keeping each other's ears and noggins impeccably groomed. Their meows sound like tiny creaky doors, their coats feel like clouds, and when it's time to rest, they curl themselves into perfect little croissants.

Nyla is the picture of grace and elegance. Calm, easy going, and always appreciative of a good snack, she's equally happy surveying her kingdom from a cat tree or chasing her favourite toy: a humble cable tie. She offers a refreshing departure from the classic ginger-cat stereotype, though that sophisticated image occasionally slips when she produces one of her trademark bleps.

Luna, meanwhile, is curiosity personified. She loves being close to her people and considers being brushed one of life's greatest pleasures. Blessed with unmistakable ginger-cat energy, Luna can often be found asleep in positions that seem to defy both logic and anatomy.

Together, Nyla and Luna are affectionate, gentle, and wonderfully funny companions. While they happen to be British Shorthairs, what truly defines them is their loving nature and the joy they bring to those around them. They can be a little shy when first meeting new people, but with a little patience their sweet personalities quickly shine through.

These lovely ladies would thrive in a warm, happy home where they can enjoy plenty of affection, playtime, naps, and each other's company. A home without dogs would likely suit them best. For the lucky people who welcome them in, Nyla and Luna offer an irresistible combination of charm, companionship, and endless entertainment.

Nyla does have some medical issues which have been fully investigated over the last year, and she is currently on some medication which is controlling her symptoms.

Keen to adopt these lovely ladies? Enquire here.