Kira: from kennel to lights, camera, action!

If you think Kira looks familiar, it's because she's the bright-eyed star of our Christmas TV advert - helping to show just how life-changing adoption can be, not just for dogs, but for people too.

Outside the green-room, Kira has an adoption story of her own. She was once in our care searching for her own happy place. 

As it turned out, the right fit simply hadn't come along yet, and that family was Andy and Emma. As someone who trains dogs for TV and film, Andy is used to building strong relationships with pups.

"She had a cracking look," says Andy, who had spotted Kira's profile online. "Those big eyes and those long eyelashes. She was curious about everything."

Emma remembers the moment just as clearly. "We saw her on the website and my husband was immediately like, 'That's the one'," says Emma. "Then we met her and she was just so sweet. She was all over us."

As they spent time together, Kira bounced around the exercise area at our Evesham rehoming centre, investigating everything she could find, happily accepting treats and throwing herself into every activity with all 4 paws. In Kira's mind, she'd already packed her bags. 

Mindful of Kira's unsettled past, Andy and Emma wanted to make sure she never doubted she was loved, wanted and secure.

After successfully meeting Andy's other dogs Bryn the Collie and Puzzle the Terrier, Kira finally left our centre for the last time. "From day one, it was like she'd fitted in perfectly," says Emma. "She's been part of the family from day dot, really."

"Everywhere I was, she was," Andy adds. "I couldn't escape her even if I wanted to. She was brilliant." Kira quickly settled in with the family's other dogs too.

"They got on like a house on fire," says Emma. "Particularly Kira and Puzzle. They were both young and loved playing together.  

"I think we realised she'd really settled when she'd curl up on our laps in the evening and completely relax," she adds. "From that moment, it felt like our little family was complete." 

Training quickly became one of Kira's favourite things. "She loves learning and she's greedy, which really helps with the training," says Emma.

Whether she was rewarded with food, a toy or simply being told she was a good girl, she approached every challenge enthusiastically.

The more time they spent together, the more obvious it became that Kira loved having a job to do. As it turns out, Megan spotted that long before Kira found her forever home.

"We'd do scent work with her, hiding tennis balls for her to find," says Megan. "She absolutely loved it."

Looking back now, it feels as though Kira was already preparing for the next chapter of her story. 

Not long after arriving in her new home, Kira began accompanying Andy to training sessions and professional animal work. She proved to be a natural.

"Her first job was filmed locally, so it was a really nice introduction for her," says Emma. "She's taken to the film work like a duck to water."

Over the following years, she worked alongside some very famous faces like Piers Brosnan and Tom Hardy. But for Andy, Kira's growing list of screen credits is only part of the story. The real full-circle moment came when she landed perhaps her most meaningful role yet: starring in a Dogs Trust TV advert.

"For her to go from being in different homes to having all these opportunities and experiences is amazing," says Megan, It's really nice for a Dogs Trust dog to be in the advert. It just shows what they can achieve when they find the right family and the right home." 

Despite her growing list of screen credits, Kira's happiest moments are the simple ones. She loves long walks, charging around with her canine companions and spending time with Andy and Emma.

"I think her perfect day would be going out for a lovely walk with her mates, doing a bit of training and then coming home to relax," says Emma. "I've got a little art studio at home and she'll happily curl up on a chair while I'm working."  

If Andy's busy, she's more than happy to supervise. Whether she's actually helping is open to debate.

For a dog who's rubbed paws with television stars and appeared on screens across the country, Kira is still wonderfully down to earth. 

Looking at Kira today, it's hard to believe she ever spent time waiting for someone to choose her. The puppy who was returned twice has grown into a happy, confident dog surrounded by people who absolutely adore her. "You can see her confidence just shines," says Megan. "She's so settled with the family."  

And while her adventures are impressive, Andy thinks the best parts of life happen away from the cameras. It's the excited greeting he gets every morning, the walks, the games. The moments when Kira follows him from room to room simply because she'd rather be wherever he is.

When asked what makes his home Kira's happy place, Andy's answer couldn't be simpler. "It's love."

Emma agrees. "I think her happy place is being curled up on the sofa with us and the other dogs," she says. "She's living her best life."