Lovebirds complete their fam with a furry BFF!

Who wouldn’t fall in love with this adorable face? Meet Lucifer! 

Newlyweds Brendan and Felicia met and fell in love while travelling. They knew that once they moved in together and got married, it would be time to adopt a dog!

“My wife wanted to adopt, I wasn’t sure about adoption because I didn’t know how the dog would react, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

They started searching PetRescue, and it wasn’t long before they came across handsome big boy Lucifer, who was in the care of Ballarat Animal Shelter. 

“The people at Ballarat Animal Shelter were awesome every step of the way and everything was super easy. They were friendly and encouraging - I think he meant a lot to them too.”

They wasted no time and quickly set up an appointment to meet him at the shelter!

“We met him and just knew. He was doing his own thing at first, then he was all over us, and Felicia started crying! That’s when I was like, we’ve got a dog!

We took him home that day. Within ten minutes, he just knew it was his home. Ever since he’s just been the most amazing dog. I couldn’t ask for a better dog.”

Lucifer has fit in easily to the couple’s lives since coming home. He has some separation anxiety, but Brendan’s wife is home most of the time, so they always have each other. Lucifer doesn’t play favourites either - with his sweet personality complementing each of them!

“He’s completely changed our lives. He’s definitely gotten a lot more attached to us, and is getting more and more attached to us each day. My job gets a bit hectic and it’s good to come home to my wife and the dog. Sometimes when we’re just sitting on the couch watching Youtube, having him there makes such a difference. 

It relieves so much stress for both of us just having him there. He knows when you’re stressed or upset, or happy, and he kind of adjusts to your level - he’s one of a kind! He’s the perfect personality for both me and Felicia. I’m the playful morning person who goes to bed early, and he comes to bed with me - she wakes up late, and he has a sleep-in with her! She’s a bit grumpy waking up, and he’s the same - he’ll put his paw over his eyes when he doesn’t want to get up!”

One highlight so far has been Lucifer joining the couple on a camping trip, which he adored! 

“We went camping a few weeks ago, and I was a bit sceptical of letting him off the leash, but he just hung around us for three days straight and didn’t leave our sight.”

It’s only been a couple of months since Lucifer first came home, and the couple is already talking about adopting a friend for him. He’s clearly made a huge imprint on their lives and hearts! 

“He’s an awesome dog; he’s so gentle. The best thing about him is he can be fully playful, and then he’ll be asleep on your lap within a split second. I take him to the dog park a few times a week, and he even keeps up with some of the greyhounds there! When we have dinner, he’ll do these puppy dog eyes at us, and you just have to feed him!” 

Brendan says to anyone considering adopting a pet; 

“Don’t think about it. Just do it! You won’t regret it. You can just tell that rescue dogs know they’re getting a second chance and appreciate it, and that makes us feel really good. I think they’re more loving.”

Looking to welcome a doggo into your home? Start your search here.

Recently adopted a dog? Hooray! Click here for some tips about how to settle in your new BFF.

Lucifer is one of the lucky ones who had a profile on PetRescue, where his new family found him. But can you imagine if they had never met?

Right now, over 9,000 pets, just like Lucifer, need your help to find a home.  

PetRescue’s adoption platform gives homeless pets the best chance to find a home. No matter where a pet might find themselves homeless in Australia, your gift gives them a place on PetRescue. Shining a light on the love they have to give and creating the connection for a new family to find them.

Because of you, PetRescue can continue to be freely available, connecting more homeless pets and more families.