Forever Home For Rescue Dogs At Thornbury Development

The small mixed breeds, Bella the Kokoni and terrier, Suki, were rescued by kind-hearted animal lovers, Emily and George, who have recently bought their first property together at David Wilson Homes’ Morton Meadows on Gloucester Road.

George brought Bella to the UK six years ago when they were living in Skiathos. Last summer, the couple felt it was time for a new four-legged companion, so they returned to the island where they know lots of dogs are dumped at the shelter in sacks and bin bags, and they fell in love with Suki who came to the UK last October when she was six months old.

Emily, a sustainability business partner for a housing association, says: "Rescuing, especially from abroad, is hard work for all involved - it takes a lot of time, training and patience but is so rewarding. Buying our first home is about giving Bella and Suki a place they can be safe and free to be dogs. When you’re renting - if you can find somewhere that allows pets - you worry about the slightest scratch on the floor or a mark on the wall from the dogs, but in our own home they’ll be free to play uninhibited.”

Water hygiene engineer, George, adds: “After living together in rented accommodation near the hustle and bustle of Bristol city centre for the past seven years we felt ready to move somewhere quieter and cosier. We've wanted to buy our first home for the last couple of years as we found the city rental market stressful and expensive and now that we have two dogs, we want to enjoy a bit of a more relaxed pace of life. While we both liked the idea of a new build property, we’d been put off by sites that looked bland and regimented. David Wilson Homes' Morton Meadows development immediately impressed us because the stone houses had more character than others we'd seen. We were also attracted to the size of the development which is small enough so we can make friends and build a community around us. Morton Meadows feels like the perfect location for us - it's close enough to Bristol to visit for shopping or the theatre but day-to-day we have lovely dog walks and country pubs right on our doorstep. We weren't quite ready to leave the city behind but we love the countryside so Thornbury really does give us the best of both worlds.”

The couple used the housebuilders' deposit contribution to buy a three-bedroom home at the site. Emily adds: “The 5% contribution was really helpful as it has meant we haven't had to borrow as much from the bank and it brought the house to within our budget. Without it, we wouldn't have been able to afford what we know will be our dream home. We're looking forward to introducing Bella and Suki to lots of new dog walks, making the most of the independent cafes and restaurants in Thornbury and growing vegetables in our new garden. It'll be a whole different way of life and we can't wait to make the move.”

Morton Meadows is a collection of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in Thornbury, and there are just eight homes remaining. The development is surrounded by eight acres of open space, and the town centre is just a short drive away with a range of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. For families with children, there are a number of Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ schools nearby.

Prices at the development start from £620,000.

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