Helping Rory Find a Home – Featured in Peterborough Weekly
A Special Feature on Rory’s Journey
We’re so touched that Peterborough Weekly recently shared the story of Rory — one of our adoptable dogs with a big heart and an even bigger spirit. Their feature beautifully captures his resilience, the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the love that drives everything we do at LAWS.
You can read the full article below, originally written by Marina Kydd for Peterborough Weekly.
Read the full story on Peterborough Weekly →
By Marina Kydd
Rory’s story begins in a shelter in Timmins. Taken in through a local animal welfare partner, the two-year-old mixed-breed dog spent months waiting for a home that never came.
When no one showed interest, he was transferred to another facility in Sudbury where, again, no one applied to adopt him.
“They had an adoption event,” said Lyndsay Lisson-De Ell, Director of Operations at the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS). “Most of the other dogs went home. Rory had zero applications, and so to get more eyes on him, we moved him here about two weeks ago.”
When Rory arrived in Lakefield, staff noticed he was still underweight and anxious after so many transitions. “He struggled to put on weight in the previous shelters,” said Alex Fedorenko, a Registered Veterinary Technician at LAWS.
“He’s been eating really well here. He’s very food motivated. He’s slowly starting to gain weight. He’s been anxious, but he’s had so many changes in his life. He’s the sweetest dog, but he’s ready to find his forever home. It’s time.”
Both staff members agree that Rory’s ideal home would be calm, structured, and cat-free. “I’d say he’d probably do well in a family that had one or two people, no little kids, as he can be quite rambunctious sometimes,” said Fedorenko. “Definitely a family that is active.”
Despite his sweetness, Rory’s nature may be part of why he’s been overlooked. “His instinct is to give himself space when he first meets people,” said Lisson-De Ell. “He’s not a dog that comes running right to you. He gives himself a bit of time, and then it’s almost like you have to earn his trust. Once you have earned that trust, he is an absolute doll.”
For the LAWS team, seeing dogs like Rory wait so long for a home is heartbreaking. “It breaks our hearts, especially because we know that his people are out there,” said Lisson-De Ell.
At LAWS, each adoptable animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and cared for through a network of foster homes, volunteers, and medical professionals.
For both Lisson-De Ell and Fedorenko, seeing Rory find his forever home would mean everything. “It would mean everything to us,” said Fedorenko. “Not just us, but the other shelters that cared for him at one point too.”
Lisson-De Ell added, “They are so invested, they follow up on him all the time. There are so many people rooting for him. He has a village behind him.”
When asked what she hopes readers will take away from Rory’s story, Lisson-De Ell’s answer came without hesitation. “Don’t overlook the shy dogs,” she said. “They have so much to offer.”
Help Rory Find His Forever Home
Rory is still looking for his forever family, one that will give him the love, patience, and stability he has been waiting for.
Learn more about Rory and apply to adopt → https://www.lakefieldanimalwelfare.org/adopt-a-pet/
Thank you to Marina Kydd and Peterborough Weekly for sharing Rory’s story and helping shine a light on animals still waiting for a second chance.