Sophie From Romania : A Year of Love and Hope with a Rescue Dog

How do you welcome someone new into your home and your heart? A week before Christmas 2022, former BBC journalist and award-winning podcaster Rory Cellan-Jones received a special delivery that changed the course of his life. This is the story of #SophieFromRomania, told in full for the first time. In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie Cross, Cabbage. Newly retired, Rory had become inseparable from her during daily pandemic walks which alleviated his Parkinson's Disease symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane contemplated opening up their hearts again and came across a dog listing for 'a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home'. Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London from Central Europe in a van on 17thDecember. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together - unaware it is more than a year ahead. Sophie from Romaniafollows the journey of her adoption - from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first foray outside - as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie's trust, and navigate Rory's Parkinson's diagnosis. This is a moving story of growing together through love, kindness and a lot of patience, revealing how adopting pets can be challenging but also full of rewarding moments. It's also a celebration of rescue dogs, and community as Rory uplifts fellow Romanian dog owners and his new friends from the #SophieFromRomania hashtag.