Sunday Success: Rito’s Story

Today, we’re sharing the heartwarming story of Rito (the dog formerly known as Rita) and his incredible journey from a Romanian kill shelter to a loving forever home in the UK. Told through the eyes of his new dad, Geoff, this is a tale of hope, resilience, and love. From a scared pup in Romania to a cherished family member, Rito’s story is one that will fill your heart. Let’s hear from Geoff about how Rito has changed his whole family's life for the better...

"It had been nearly two years since my wonderful Cavalier spaniel Oscar crossed the rainbow bridge leaving me totally distraught. Finally, however I felt able to take on another dog and this time it would be a rescue. We tried to adopt a UK dog but every time we applied for one we were rejected. So many crazy reasons were given. That was it. We decided that we would look at a dog from abroad. We looked at many dogs but we couldn’t decide. Finally, a little black and white face looked out of the computer screen. I don’t know why but something spoke to me. This wee chap looked so lonely. He was named “Rito”.

I called O.U.R Dog Foundation to find out more about him. He was described as a small dog, good with people and other dogs but not cat tested. We don’t have a cat luckily. The staff at O.U.R. told me that he had originally been assigned the name Rita, but then there were a couple of things that were a bit of a give-away (!) and his name was changed to Rito. The masculine form of Rita. He had originally been rescued from a killing shelter by a lovely lady vet called Irina, who works in Buzau City, Romania, in February of 2021 and had been there ever since. We then saw a short film of him and that was it. If we were suitable then he was coming here. A video tour of our stately pile, adoption forms filled in, fees paid and the deed was done. He was coming here.

The adopters’ Whats App group was set up and we waited impatiently. The date was confirmed. 10th December 2021, coincidentally my son’s birthday. We prepared the house. I was doing my duty as a school Santa that morning but hoped to be home in time to meet him. Unfortunately for me, the driver had made good time and I was ten minutes late. My partner Sandra was there however to greet him. She told me that the driver handed her the lead, looked at the little dog and said the following words to him.

“You’re home now”.

I arrived still half dressed as Santa and met this frightened little dog who was unsure of the world and what was going to happen to him. Following the advice from O.U.R, we gave him the peace and space to decompress and a gentle diet of chicken and rice. He met our other dog, an entitled but incredibly loveable little witch called The Pip. Noses and other bits were sniffed and that was it. Friends. We felt that he had been an abandoned pet as we had one poop in the house, and once he knew where to go, there was no further problem. He also walked well on the lead and, although hesitant and reserved at first, he started to settle in to living in a West Cumbrian costal town. After a couple of weeks, he was introduced to the pub. The locals were warned that he needed space and were good enough to give him it. He sat close to me for the first couple of visits, but then totally out of the blue he trotted over to say hello to a bloke called John. I feel that this was the start of his healing. He was still wary of hi viz vests for some reason and one of the lads in the pub uses a stick, which also scared him, but he’s got better over time.

Rito had only been with us for a couple of days when his loving character started to show. I was working on a consultancy project at the dining table. Next thing, I felt a pair of paws up on my knee. Rito had jumped up to see what I was doing and was asking for attention.

We found that he was very sensitive about his back legs. He has dew claws and they had grown hooked and were digging into his pad, so a vet visit was inevitable. He needed sedation to have them done but once the pain had gone, he was a different dog again.

In the nearly three years he’s been here, his confidence has soared. When we walk around the town, he knows which shops are staffed by dog lovers, so he visits his friends for his biscuit treats! In the pub, he runs up to the bar and barks for biscuits. My son works in W.H. Smiths and Rito has worked out where the treats are kept behind the counter so he now helps himself!

Rito is also incredibly nosy. If you’ve got something he wants it. This even extends to my son’s insulin pen (he’s diabetic). Once he finds out it’s not edible though he loses interest.

Rito also has the habit of resting his chin on anything. Yes, one of his nicknames is “the chin”!

We have kept the name Rito, which means “alright” in the local slang.

Rito has managed to make so many friends now. Even to the point where when I asked what I should bring to a social event at a charity I volunteer at, the response was “your dog”. Many people ask what breed he is. The stock answer is “a pure-bred mutt”. If it is possible to take him with me, then he’s there. I often wake up in bed at night to find him fast asleep on the floor next to me. We are yet to take him away on holiday with us (I haven’t been away for years myself), and now The Pip is getting so old and creaky, and with toilet problems that we don’t want to stress her or leave her in kennels or with a sitter.

Rito’s quite taken to travelling in the car. He barked like mad at first but that has all settled now thank goodness. He does his stunts (Sit, Down, Turn, Shake a paw, And the other one). He knows the word “Walk” and dances and spins in excitement when he hears it. He also knows the word “Sausages”! He loves coming out to a pub for a bar meal and behaves himself really well. Postie still gets loads of barkies though.

We have been so very lucky with this wonderful little chap. It’s as if it was meant to be. He gives us so much love and we absolutely adore him."

Rito may have started life with uncertainty, but thanks to Geoff and his family, he’s now thriving in a home full of love and warmth. Stories like Rito’s remind us why rescue work matters—every dog deserves a second chance.

Thank you to everyone who has made Rito's happy endings possible.