Acorn Recovery Projects helps hundreds of people rebuild their lives every year. But their care doesn’t end with people — sometimes it extends to the pets who walk beside them.
Take Marlow, a gentle cocker spaniel whose life was turned upside down when his owner became homeless.
As Acorn supported his owner into recovery services, Group Co-ordinator Liz knew one thing for certain: Marlow deserved safety, stability, and love too.
Rather than turn him over to a shelter, Liz leaned on her own network to find the right family. She soon met a household still grieving the loss of their beloved dog, their home unusually quiet without the sound of paws.
Their young grandson, recently diagnosed with autism and living with trauma, longed for the steady comfort of a four-legged friend. It felt like fate.
But Marlow’s journey wasn’t simple. On the day Liz was set to collect him, his owner had been arrested, and she was called to a police station to take him in.
“It was a challenging situation,” Liz recalls. “But as soon as Marlow came out, tail wagging despite all the confusion, it was clear he was ready for a new start.”
From there, Marlow was welcomed into his new family with open arms. Within hours, he had found his rhythm — gentle with the cats, playful with the grandchildren, and deeply needed by a boy who had been craving companionship.
“In that moment,” Liz said, “it was obvious Marlow had found not just a home, but a place where he was truly loved.”
Marlow’s new owner agrees. “My grandson had just been diagnosed that very day,” she shared. “We knew he missed our other dog, so it felt meant to be. Marlow has been wonderful — great with the kids, gentle with the cats. It really is a proper happy ending.”
And for Acorn, it’s another reminder that recovery doesn’t just mean rebuilding human lives — sometimes it means rescuing the loyal companions who’ve been there all along.
To learn more about Acorn Recovery Projects, visit acornrecovery.org.uk.
