Nearly 50 dogs are up for adoption at one centre in Merseyside, with 12 of them newly available.
Georgina Lowery, manager of Dogs Trust Merseyside, said: "Dogs find themselves with us for a variety of reasons such as illness in the family, a change in working hours or accommodation or someone having to move into a care facility.
"Whatever the reason, it is always heart-breaking for owners to have to hand over their dog, but we can guarantee they will get everything they need whilst they are with us whether that’s off site walks, additional snuggles, training, treats, toys, or just sitting with a member of the team or a volunteer watching the world go by.
READ MORE: 'Sweetest girl who will steal your heart' looking for retirement home
"We are really proud that we are here and able to take care of them until the time comes for them to head off to their new homes and enjoy adventures with their new families. Whether someone wants to welcome a young dog or an older dog into their life, or they are looking for a large or small four-legged friend, we would encourage everyone to think about adopting.
"We look after dogs until they find their forever homes, however long it takes, and we do become attached to them but we are never happier than when we see them happily heading home to enjoy life and great adventures with a loving family."
Some of the dogs have found new homes since the ECHO shared the stories of the animals at Dogs Trust's centre on Whiston Lane in Huyton. But many more dogs have since arrived and are looking for homes of their own.
Archie
This 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier is "a little bewildered" after recently losing his owner. He's a little overweight and spends his days "watching the comings and goings" from his bed. But he "get very excited" when his carers come with his lead, and "he still enjoys his exercise and likes to visit the country park nearby for a walk and a good investigate".
He's yet to play with his toys at the centre, but "hopefully this will change once he's settled back in to the comforts of home life". He'll need to be the only dog in his new home as he "will shout back if they react to him". Dogs Trust said: "His new family will need to work on getting his attention when out walking, and helping him learn to ignore other dogs. He is house trained and can be left alone for about three hours once he's settled in. Archie can live with children aged 14 and over, and he does not like to be touched on his stomach."
Belle
Belle "was such a shy thing on arrival" after being found in a field with 11 other greyhounds and minimal shelter. But "now she loves to meet people and being involved in whatever is going on". She travels well and is calm in cars. Dogs Trust said: "Belle is super friendly and very gentle, although she will occasionally greet with her feet in the air if she's really excited to see you."
She panics when she's alone, and is somewhat of a thief, but she is doing well with house training and "she gets along very well with other dogs and could certainly live with another". Although she's never been used for racing, you should take care "around cats and wildlife as sighthounds do have a naturally have a high prey drive". She can live with children aged around 10, but her new family needs to be patient while Belle settles into a new routine.
Bow
Bow "may not have the face of an angel, but he has the loveliest little personality, and it shines through more and more each day". He was "terribly underweight" when he first arrived at Dogs Trust in 2019, and he's looking better thanks to his family.
Sadly, ill health in that family means the bull mastiff "hasn't been getting his regular exercise and is now a little more chunky", even if he does like "a gentle potter about". Dogs Trust said: "He'll need to lose a few pounds but once he's back in a regular fitness regime, he'll become much fitter and healthier."
He's quite the worrier "when it comes to new people and new situations, so he needs a family who will take things very slowly with him". He won't live with just any dog, but he could with "a well matched one", and he can live with children over 16.
The house trained dog will need to be visited at the centre a few times before going to his new home. It might be best to keep him off the sofa, or to give him his own, because "he doesn't like to get off it once he's comfortable" and doesn't like being disturbed when he's resting.
Buttercup
"Beautiful" boxer Buttercup is "a very energetic girl" who was found as a stray. Her new owners will need to teach her not to jump on people as she "hasn't got the best manners in the world and can get a bit excitable and jump up to greet people".
She "doesn't quite know how big she is", so she'd need to be in a home with children aged 14 and over, and she'd "also benefit with being the only dog in the home". Buttercup is friendly around other dogs at the centre, but "she can get quite easily frustrated when not allowed to greet them". Her new owners could focus on building up her socialisation and confidence around other dogs, and show her the fun she can have with toys.
Dexter
This American bulldog-German shepherd cross "spends most of his day snoozing away on his bed", bouncing up and wagging his tail ready for his daily walk when approached. Dexter can be a strong puller on the lead, and he "loves playing fetch with a ball, stick or even half the tree", which his new owners can use to help him lose weight.
Dexter hadn't had much socialisation in his previous home, but he's been off the lead with a couple of dogs at the centre. He'd be best as the only dog at home, with socialisation outside of the house to build up his social skills. He's lived with kids before and can live with children ideally aged 10 or over.
Iris
Only seven months old, Irish has "already had a few homes, as is becoming common with shepherd types". She's wary of new people and things, but she enjoys investigating when walking around the centre. Irish likes to play and will carry a tennis ball, and she'd love a family who'll spend time teaching her games and tricks "to keep working that smart brain of hers".
An adult-only home with a family who knows shepherds would be ideal. She's "typically vocal when approached by strangers", seemingly a taught behaviour, and she could live with a well-matched dog. She enjoys playing with other dogs, "albeit roughly", but the right owner can appropriately socialist her "without forcing her into anything".
Poppy
This confident, 10-year-old terrier cross "does a wiggly little dance" when her carers enter her kennel. She's loves walks, greets everyone she meets, and "mooches about the centre with joy". She "doesn't have much experience of other dogs and she can be quite uncomfortable around some".
Poppy needs to be the only pet in her new home as "she doesn't like cats either". She can live with teenagers but isn't keen on younger children. She is house trained, but she isn't used to spending time alone.
Teddy
A "very lively dog with bags of energy to burn", Teddy like to explore and bounce off every bench and tree stump when out for walks. The crossbreed is "very affectionate", but he "gets a bit silly and mouthy". Dogs Trust "advise lots of gentle fussing rather than getting him too excited". Teddy is "very smart" and "would benefit from some training and activities to keep him busy".
He "can be defensive of his things at times", and he's raided the bin in the past, so "his new family will need to make sure it's out of his reach". Teddy would ideally be the only dog in the home, with none as neighbours, because he doesn't respond well to them. Dogs Trust advises keeping him around teenagers and older, because he's never been around young kids, and "he can sometimes be possessive of his toys and food".
Although he can be reactive on walks, he can be distracted with treats, which Dogs Trust's training team can teach his new family. He is house trained but may go to the toilet if left alone too long. A home with someone there for most of the day would be ideal as he enjoys company.
Tiny
Tiny the four-year-old Yorkshire terrier-Pomeranian cross has "a shy, quiet nature". He loves to play and go for walks, but it takes time for him to settle into new environments. The "smart chap" knows a few commands and can be enticed to learn more with "some tasty titbits".
He "appreciates a slow approach from strangers" and other dogs, even though he does quite like their company. He could live with another well-matched dog, but he's never been around kids, can has a "nervous nature" and has some handling issues, so any kids in the home should be over 15.
Dogs Trust said: "Tiny really doesn't enjoy being groomed or visiting the vets, and does need to be muzzled for this, something his new family must continue and be aware of. He is house trained and can be left alone for four hours without worry."
Tipsy
Tipsy gave birth to "one tiny puppy" just a day or two after arriving at the Dogs Trust centre. Her puppy has a home, and now the "very affectionate" and "rather athletic" Tipsy is looking for one of her own. She likes jumping into laps for a couple, but she "really doesn't like other dogs".
She'll "need to be walked in quiet areas and potentially muzzled too", and although she can live with children aged eight and over, "she must only be walked by adults as her reactions to other dogs is severe". Dogs Trust said: "Tipsy is mostly house trained but may need a refresher once she goes home. She has been used to being left alone for a few hours, and may do so again if she has her alone time built up gradually."
Maverick
Maverick the "boisterous beagle" needs "a fairly experienced home who can cater to his high energy". He's "happy to meet people and can be rather noisy about it, but he's very friendly and warm towards strangers". His nose is often to the floor, "sniffing out every scent and trail there is to be had".
He can't live with another dog as, although he gets along well with them and happily meets them on walks, he guards his food from everyone. He doesn't like traffic or fast movement, and gets excited by joggers and cyclists, so somewhere quiet with a family with breed experience would be ideal.
Dogs Trust said: "Ideally his adopters will be willing to work on some training to desensitise him to this, to make it easier for everyone all round. Mav can live with children aged 16 and over and he is house trained. He would suit a family that enjoys long walks that will take care of Maverick's physical and mental needs."
Wren
Dogs Trust thing this "friendly" border collie is four years old. Wren "does walk beautifully on his lead and likes to explore, but he can be unsure about fast movements from people and traffic". He'd would suit a family with experience of collies and who can keep him mentally stimulated. He likes to play and will chase after toys, but he "hasn't quite mastered the art of the fetch".
Like a typical collie, Wren is very alert, and he'll need to live and walk in an area without heavy, continuous traffic because "moving traffic unsettles him". He'll need to be the only dog in the house, as panics and lunges if other dogs move suddenly.
He "seems happy around other dogs and will walk with them", so he'd "benefit from some positive and gentle introductions to friends once he's settled in at home, but should not be forced into any interaction that would give him cause for concern". Dogs Trust said: "We cannot be sure that Wren is house trained as we don't know his background, and we feel any children in the home would have to be over the age of 14 to understand his needs."
Zebedee
Six-year-old spanial Zebedee "loves to sit in his kennel and casually watch the world go by, but is also keen to get out when it's his turn for walkies". He's looking for an experienced, adult-only home with no other pets and limited visitors. He finds unfamiliar objects "a little worrying, so should be allowed to explore at his own pace".
Zebedee has only recently felt confident enough to play with balls, which he enjoys. He also love treats, which can help with his training. The "smart lad" knows a few commands, including sit and down, and he has a great recall, but he'll turn off from training if he feels uncomfortable or afraid. He's "relatively comfortable around calm dogs" and will interact with some in the park, "but he isn't a fan of any kind of boisterous interaction". You'll need to visit him in the centre a few times to build a bond before taking him home
Dogs Trust said: "That trust will be essential when it comes to introducing Zebedee to new surroundings, situations and people. His adopters must be willing to work closely with our behaviour team throughout his adoption and help is always available beyond that. He will also need a private garden, and no kind of shared space. Zebedee can be worried by some handling so new owners will need to go slow with a hands off approach for Zebedee."
READ NEXT
Dog walkers raise parvovirus fears after pets 'fall ill' at park
Warning as dog owners wanting to give up pets being added to waiting list
Dog 'squeals in pain' in CCTV linked to RSPCA investigation
Woman 'cried for three days' worrying about stray puppy living on scraps
Dog left in garden living on scraps neighbours threw over the fence
