Minnie’s story: A journey from Romania to my arms

Ever since I moved out of my family’s home when I was 21, I knew that I wanted to adopt a pet one day. But with long periods of full-time travel and moving around for studies and work, the timing was never quite right. That was until I decided to move to Aberdeen, Scotland, in January this year to study for my Master’s degree. After eight years of roaming about, I had grown tired of this lifestyle and found myself needing to settle down and spend more time in one place. It had also become a lonely lifestyle, and I felt it was time to finally have a permanent companion. For my first term in Aberdeen, I wasn’t able to adopt a pet as I was living in student accommodation with no pets allowed. But after a busy summer of way too many travels, I finally moved into my very first own apartment. I had one condition when I was looking for a place; that I would be able to keep a small dog in the apartment. My landowner agreed and I was one step closer to realizing my dream.

I grew up with cats and always considered myself a cat lady, so I always imagined that the pet I’d adopt would be a cat. I’m still very much a cat lady, but dogs claimed my heart when I lived with three of them on Lolland for two years. I still considered getting a cat, but I realized that a small dog would be a better choice at this time in my life. First of all, because our family cat back home in Denmark hates other cats but tolerates dogs. Secondly, because a dog is easier to travel with and have be part of my everyday life. And so, the choice fell on a dog that would be small enough to carry in a backpack and take into the cabin if I was ever to fly with the dog.

And so, the search began. I knew that I wanted a rescue dog as I don’t want to support breeders (I find it so unethical especially when there are so many rescue dogs needing a home). In all of the UK, I only found two small dogs up for adoption; two chihuahua puppies. I sent an application for both of them but never heard back. So my search continued and I took to Facebook. That’s when I stumbled upon Sibiu Dogs Angels, a rescue centre in Romania that rehomes dogs to the UK – and they even transport the dog straight to your home which is so convenient to someone like me who doesn’t own a car. I sent them a message, asking if they had any dogs that would fit my lifestyle, and they sent me a bunch of pictures and info on their small, adorable dogs. They recommended a wee dog of 3,5 kg. called Minnie, a mixed breed of cuteness, and it was love at first sight. She had been surrendered to the rescue by her previous owner alongside her four siblings and had grown up in a foster home with her siblings and some cats!

I was naturally worried because I wouldn’t be able to meet her before adopting her, but I had a good feeling about her and couldn’t bare the thought of not adopting her. After a homecheck where I had to send a video of my apartment and the green spaces outside, I signed the adoption papers, paid the fee and on September 12th, she was finally on her way to me, her new mama. Three days later, after a long overland journey with a bunch of other dogs, Minnie arrived as one of the last dogs to be dropped off, and we finally met for the first time.

The first days

While I loved Minnie from the moment I laid eyes on her, it took some time for her to come to terms with her new life and to trust me as her mama. I’d purchased a transport bag before she arrived and she thankfully took to it immediately and spent the first night in it. But the next morning, she discovered that she could get under one of my sofas and hide under it. She stayed there for two days, and I was unable to get her out. She would eat from my hand and let me stroke her, but every time she tried to stick her little head out and spotted me, she ran straight back in.

I was beside myself trying to figure out what to do. She would only come out if I’d leave the living room to do her business and then retreat to her safe space again. I tried luring her out with cooked chicken, but it didn’t help. I laid my t-shirt next to her, hoping it would get her used to my smell. And I did my uni work on the floor, as close to her as possible, to get her used to my presence. But nothing worked. Eventually, on the evening of the second day, I couldn’t take it anymore and after consulting with the rescue centre, I pulled out the sofa and grabbed her and just held her tight. I took her to my bedroom and laid her in the bed next to me and to my surprise, she stayed there the whole night. From then on, we were inseparable.

The next morning, I took her out in the transport bag to get her a harness and take her for her first walk at the beach. She was very nervous to begin with, but soon learned to love our walks. I take her out three-four times per day and she just loves it. She’s always chasing birds and leaves and running about like a maniac!

After consulting with my lecturers and fellow students, Minnie also started joining me to all my lectures at uni. She’s good as gold and usually sleeps through the entire lecture in the transport bag. She’s also joined an excursion and I take her to pub quizzes at the local bar and sometimes even grocery shopping. I love that she’s so easy to take with me, as I really want to spend as much time together as possible. We are both suffering from separation anxiety, so living in a country like Scotland where dogs are allowed almost everywhere is amazing!

The very first adventure

As you probably know from reading this blog, I have a constant desire for adventure. I’m very curious about the world and love to explore anywhere I go. So of course, I was hoping that Minnie would enjoy this lifestyle too. A few weeks after her arrival, my friend Lucie from the Faroe Islands visited us for a week, and we took Minnie out for her first outdoors adventure.

We went to Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, where we hiked 26 kilometres and camped by Loch Callater. It was such a joy to watch Minnie as she blossomed on this trip. She thrived in the outdoors and loved sniffing all the flowers, chasing all the leaves and wandering off to all the little side trails. It was such a proud dog mama moment for me!

Now that I know that she does indeed love the outdoors life, I can’t wait to take her with me on future adventures. We’re going to have so much fun exploring together!

Minnie was everything I needed. She has helped combat the loneliness and homesickness that often comes creeping when living so far from my family. She has forced me to slow down with my travels, something I wasn’t able to do on my own despite desperately wanting to. I even cancelled a fieldwork trip to Serbia because it would’ve been too soon after her arrival and I didn’t want to leave her for two weeks.

I was initially sad about cancelling the trip, but I also realized that Serbia will always be there and my friends who I would’ve gone with will too. But the first weeks with Minnie will never come back, and I’m so glad that I took the time to let her settle in peacefully and really get to know and trust me. I hope that I was everything Minnie needed too!

“Isn’t it just so pretty to think
all along there was some
invisible string
tying you to me?”

– Taylor Swift, “Invisible String”