For two-year-old Kelpie-cross Matey, the RSPCA Rutherford shelter was the only life he had ever known.

But after spending most of his young life within the shelter's walls, Matey became a success story - testament to the shelter's 20-year commitment to adoption and fostering.

The key to Matey's miracle was the Pillow Paws program, which allows committed people to take shelter dogs home for weekend respite.

Every weekend, Barnsley resident Jodi Damon welcomed a different dog home as part of the Pillow Paws program.

"It gives them time to chill out and catch up on sleep," she said.

Jodi, who couldn't commit to full foster care, first met Matey when she took him home for Christmas break.

"We took him home for Christmas last year, not knowing that we were going to adopt him or anything,"

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