Dusana's story

Dusana was living a happy and busy life, but things changed after she experienced trauma and faced losing her home. After fearing she’d also be parted from her two dogs, Zsa Zsa and Kiki, things finally changed when Dusana came to St Mungo’s.

"So many heartbreaking things... all at once"

“I was working as an au pair, but around 10 years ago, I had to stop due to issues with my back, and I lost my social circle.

A few years later I was attacked. It was extremely traumatic, and I didn’t know what to do. I locked myself in the house, stopped picking up the phone and began using drugs and alcohol to cope.

I’d booked a ticket to surprise my father, who was still in Slovakia, and the next morning I woke up to find out he had passed away unexpectedly. So many heartbreaking things were happening at once. If I didn’t have Zsa Zsa, I know I wouldn’t have made it through that time.

Losing my home

After that, I was evicted from the home I’d lived in for 12 years. I wasn’t opening my post at the time, so wasn’t aware that my landlord had gotten dementia and the lawyer had made the decision to sell the property.

I couldn’t even leave the house, never mind cope with an eviction and I didn’t want to carry on. I felt at the lowest of lows, at rock bottom.

I eventually accessed some help with my mental health and slowly, things started to get better and I was in recovery from drugs and alcohol, which I have been since 2018.

But things went wrong again when I began to be stalked. It resurfaced my trauma and was something else that had gone wrong.

Staying together

I was living in a new place when my landlady said she was doubling my rent, which I just couldn’t afford. Finding somewhere else that would accept me, Zsa Zsa and Kiki, became a huge problem.

They are my life and had kept me going. I was prepared to sit on the street and beg someone to give shelter to us. I couldn’t live without them; they’re my best friends.

Fortunately, my community mental health team introduced me to St Mungo’s, who invited me to find out more about a women’s only accommodation.

I was so happy. I already knew St Mungo’s accepted dogs and felt so lucky. We were invited in, assessed and offered a space here. When I heard ‘yes’, I was crying with happiness.

It felt unbelievable after everything that had happened. I was mentally preparing to have to move out to the countryside to start from scratch.

It was always in my mind that my future was uncertain, but I felt secure getting that news.

Feeling safe again

Once we moved in, my anxiety started to lower, knowing we had somewhere to live and we were made to feel so welcome. I started to invite my neighbours on dog walks with me, which has been nice, and I’ve made some friends.

I didn’t know how unwell I was until I moved here and could start dealing with what was happening.

The team here love Zsa Zsa and Kiki, which means everything to me. You don’t need to like me, but if you’re kind to my dogs that’s all that matters.

Life today

I’m a member of St Mungo’s Client Advisory Board now, which helps to make decisions about the charity. I couldn’t believe it when I was offered the role! I have some big plans. I’d love to continue volunteering, and help other St Mungo’s clients who have dogs, too. I’m a qualified dog trainer and also doing a dog behaviourist course, so I’d like to put this to good use. It could be starting a programme to help others with their dogs, from training or helping to look after them if their owner gets sick.

I still have bad days of course, but the support workers are here to talk to about what’s going on and I feel like I’ve blossomed. Here, I know we’re accepted and have a safe roof over our heads.