Sweet moment UK care home resident is reunited with her dog

This is the sweet moment a care home resident was reunited with her dog - after he found a new owner just five minutes away.

Diana Darlington, 82, was given Jak as a birthday present from her late husband, Roy, ten years ago.

But when he passed away she made the difficult decision to move from Kent back to Cheshire to be closer to most of her family in May 2021.

It meant leaving behind the Bichon-Lakeland terrier mix with a relative over 200 miles away - which had made it impossible for Diana to see her pooch often.

But Sarah Roberts, from Hartford, Cheshire, had heard about the home's plea to find somewhere closer for Jak and decided to take him in.

And Diana had the surprise of her life when she was told by staff at Redwalls Nursing Home, Sandiway, Cheshire, that they had found Jak a home nearby.

Now with Jak being so close, he is able to pop in and see Diana every few days.

Diana, retired hotel owner, said: "I couldn't believe it. It's a miracle. Jak leaped up at me from the door and jumped on me and we had cuddles and kisses.

''It's just like old times."

Regional activities coordinator Jodie Solaiman, 26, and relatives had seen how distraught Diana was at being so far away from her 10-year-old dog and put out a plea to rehome him somewhere local.

Luckily local Sarah Roberts jumped at the chance to make a difference and traveled to pick him up from Kent the next day.

Sarah said: “As soon as I heard about Jodie looking to home Jak closer to Diana I just thought, ‘I’ll have him. I’m local so I can pop to Redwalls any time and the difference it will make to Diana is immeasurable’!

“So much so, my children and I traveled to Kent the next day to collect Jak and the reunion was so happy and emotional that I knew I had made the right decision.”

Diana was very surprised when she found out the news.

"When I told Diana that we'd found Jak a home just five minutes away she couldn't believe it," Jodie said. "She was in tears with happiness."

Jodie also managed to capture the moment the pair were reunited for the first time in over a year.

An excited Jak jumps up onto Diana's lamp straight away after seeing her.

Diana said: "We fell asleep together after. I needed him. He got me through so much."

Now Jak is able to come into seeing Diana two to three times a week.

Jodie said: "It's made such a difference to her mood. She's putting make-up on again.
She has a dog bed in her room for him when he comes to visit.

"It's been amazing seeing the change in her. I just feel so lucky," Diana said.

"I'm so grateful for Redwalls for letting this happen."

Follow the nursing home on TikTok @redwallsnursinghome.