The very striking Truffle found a home soon after he was featured here last October. He now lives in Kawagone, Saitama Prefecture, with Yumi Oshida, who lost her previous dog two years ago. Despite the hardship of losing a pet, it wasn’t long before Oshida started wondering whether she should open up her home to another furry companion.

“The house and garden felt really big and empty,” Oshida says. “But I was a little nervous about the responsibility of looking after a dog again.”

Fortunately, Oshida had learned about ARK’s founder Elizabeth Oliver some 10 years ago and decided that commercial breeders were out of the question if she found herself ready to become an owner again.

“‘If I were to get another dog, I’d like it to be from her organization,’” Oshida recalls thinking.

And then, Oshida visited ARK — and met Truffle.

“I saw how much the staff enjoyed being with him and, when I took him for a walk, I decided I definitely should move forward with adoption.”

From there, there was no going back. Now, the two enjoy walks together all the time.

“I never used to do any exercise, but now Truffle is keeping me healthy!” Oshida says.

Prior to adopting, she knew that Truffle was a timid dog, but the neighborhood they take their walks through is helping Truffle be a bit braver.

“One older lady we have met on walks will hide her umbrella so she doesn’t scare him,” Oshida says. “She said to me, ‘Oh, he’ll come out of his shell in his own good time.’”

If you are interested in adopting, email ARK at [email protected] or call 050-1557-2763 (English or Japanese) Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Animal Refuge Kansai (with offices in Kansai and Tokyo) is an NPO founded by U.K. native Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are required to undergo a screening process. Web: www.arkbark.net