Terriers, shepherds and even an Akita cross are among the 14 dogs newly available for adoption from Dogs Trust Merseyside.
In total, 45 dogs, someone of them found as strays or subject to illegal procedures, are at the centre looking for new homes. Georgina Lowery, manager of Dogs Trust Merseyside, based on Whiston Lane in Huyton, 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.
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"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. But more dogs always arrive in need of a family of their own.
Bear
This "chunky three-year-old pug" is a "happy little chap" who loves meeting new people and "takes everything in his short stride". Bear "doesn't seem to know much" other than a sit, but basic training "is a great way for his new family to build a bond with him".
He's looking for home along with Poppy, and although he can go home now, Dogs Trust is currently waiting until Poppy is neutered as she's currently in season. She "may have to wait a week or two to join her new family whilst she finishes her season and has a procedure to open her airways".
Dogs Trust said: "Both dogs are house trained and can live with children aged 10 and over. They can comfortably spend a few hours by themselves, but we advise you let them settle into their new routine before leaving them alone for a few hours."
Bentley
This "very friendly and happy dog" enjoys exploring, is full of energy and "loves s a game of tug, almost as much as he does a belly rub". He needs an active family to tire him out with adventures and show him how to greet people "with a little less enthusiasm". He "loves to meet people, but he's a little short on manners, and some may find his excitement a little intimidating", according to Dogs Trust.
Bentley was "sadly returned" to Dogs Trust just a few weeks after being rehomed. The charity said his new family will need to work on keeping him mentally and physically stimulated because he doesn't know how to channel his energy "in the right ways".
He'll need to be the only dog in the house until he has better social skills as, although he's to meet other dogs, and would benefit from well-matched friends, he can be pushy around them. Bentley is house trained, but he isn't used to being alone and is known to dig up a flower bed or two when he's been by himself in the garden.
Dogs Trust said: "Bentley can live with (robust) teenagers, and please be aware that he likes to check out the kitchen worktops for stray bits of food, and can open doors."
Bison
Bison hasn't settled into the kennels, finding the new environment scary after being brought to Dogs Trust because he "was worried around the young baby" in his previous home. The whippet was good with older children, so any kids in his new home should be over the age of 12.
He relaxes slightly and "enjoys exploring and sniffing around" on his daily walks. Bison is wary around bikes and can react with fear to new people, but he warms to them pretty fast and "does enjoy a fuss", or playing chase or with a mouth toy.
Ideally, the housetrained dog would be the only one in the home, with "regular meets with friendly dogs to build up his confidence" as he can be reactive to them before being friendly, albeit still slightly unsure.
Charlotte
This one-year-old English bull terrier cross "is finding centre a life a little difficult but loves to be outside, especially running around our off lead area". Her "beautiful face" greets people "very enthusiastically" and she loves a fuss, nuzzling into people or perching herself at their feet "for maximum attention".
For now, Charlotte needs to be the only dog at home, with a family to help improve her social skills because she "doesn't seem to have had much experience of dogs, and can be quite vocal and reactive towards them". Dogs Trust said: "We cannot be sure that Charlotte is house trained as we have no history for her. She can live with children of secondary school age."
Coco
A "very lively and energetic 10 month old XL Bully Akita cross", Coco struggles to keep her paws still with her eagerness to engage with and explore her surroundings. It's "quite a challenge" to get this "wriggly monster" on a lead and harness, and she loves playing games of tug on rope toys.
The "strong girl" is happy to approach new people and can "jump up with excitement", but she was wary of unknown men in her previous home, and may have a little bark. Dogs Trust said any introductions to new people should be done on a lead.
Coco has experience around kids, but due to her strength, kids living in and visiting her home should be 10 and older, and "confident with bouncy, excitable dogs". The housetrained dog could live with a dog matching her personality, and has lived with one before, but she "can sometimes be a little over the top" with dogs in the centre.
Ellie
Friendly greyhound Ellie "greets everyone with level 10 enthusiasm but needs to learn to be just as keen with her paws on the floor" She loves to play and gets excited about her toys, with Dogs Trust saying: "It's wonderful to see her pouncing on them and throwing them in the air with such delight."
Ellie will walk with other dogs, and she'll "happily say hello and have an investigative sniff and walk beside them", but she barks and gets frustrated not to be near them if she sees one at a distance. An owner willing to properly introduce her to "dog savvy, confident dogs" would suit her.
Like many with ex-racing dogs, this greyhound has "a high prey drive and likes to try to chase the small animals" living on the Dogs Trust Merseyside site, so the charity warned against her living with cats or small furries. They don't know her experience with kids, or whether she's been housetrained, but she can live with children of high school age.
Frankie
Found as a stray, this roughly five-year-old German shepherd has a "mysterious past". It takes Frankie a while to be comfortable around and trust people, but the team at Dogs Trust Merseyside has learned he's a "gentle boy behind that fluffy white coat" and loves "lying on his bed with his favourite teddies".
He loves an adventure somewhere quiet where he feels safe to explore and sniff without worrying about what is going on around him. Busy places worry Frankie, and he "doesn't know how to behave around other dogs", with his reactions to them mixed.
Frankie need a home in a quiet area, with a new family willing to invest time in building up his confidence and social skills, "slowly and positively". The house will need minimal visitors as he can be nervous around new people. He could live with older teenagers if they're confident around large dogs.
Katie
This "very affectionate" dog, found as a stray, had her ears cropped, which is illegal in the UK. Katie "is an easy going girl who loves to wag her little tail" and walks "beautifully on her lead". She's playful, "gets very giddy if you play with her toys alongside her", and may catch you off guard if she sees something she needs to investigate.
Because Dogs Trust has no previous history for her, the centre won't rehome her with kids under 12. Any teens in the house need to be "robust and confident" enough to deal with the enthusiasm of this "big girl". Katie can be unsure of other dogs and bark at first, but she enjoyed their company if properly introduced.
She could live with "a similar sized dog with an enthusiastic approach to playtime". She "knows a command or two so has likely lived in a house before". Katie needs someone home most of the day, and any prospective adopters are advised to know about or research cane corsos.
Dogs Trust said: "The government is currently consulting on their proposals to ban the import of dogs with cropped ears, plans which Dogs Trust support. We are urging them to go further and ban the sale of dogs in the UK which have undergone this procedure."
Nala
Nala has returned to Dogs Trust Merseyside to find a new family after originally arriving as a young puppy. The "shy girl" gets attached to people quite quickly and loves to be made a fuss off, nudging your elbow so she can snuggle under your arm.
She was attacked by another dog when she was younger, leaving her wary when she sees a dog aproaching. Nala is happy to walk alongside quiet dogs who don't want to interact with her, and she has "a good sniff around" in quiet areas, but "gets a little overwhelmed if there's lots going on around her".
Nala may bark if an unfamiliar dog approaches, and she "can be protective of her things if other dogs are in her space, so she'll need to be the only pet at home", with someone around for her most of the day. The housetrained dog has basic training and knows a few commands and tricks, plus she loves tasty treats, especially cheese, so this is a great way train her to help her build confidence and the length of time she can be alone.
Due to her nervous nature, Dogs Trust will only rehome Nala with families where all members of the household and visitors are over the age of 16.
Patch
Patch "has had a rough time" since his owner had to give him up, leaving him to stay in boarding kennels before arriving at Dogs Trust Merseyside, where he's "formed strong bonds with his carers and likes to climb on top of them to ensure the fussing as at a maximum level".
The Staffordshire bull terrier is "very tactile and his tail goes into overdrive when he's getting some one on one attention, even from the vet". He loves exploring and stands "ever so well" when his carers put his harness and lead on.
His new family will need to invest in sturdy toys as he really enjoys them, "especially the tuggy type". He'll "happily walk with friendly dogs. but he doesn't really care much for any interaction, and will try to avoid any approaches made"
Dogs Trust said he'd thrive as the only dog in a quiet home without any neighbouring dogs, as he's struggled to cope with this in the kennels. Because he's never been around kids, the charity recommend any in his new home are over 16. This housetrained Staffy "is going to make someone a wonderful companion" once he's comfortable with them.
Pixie
This "adorable" 12-year-old German shepherd is struggling to settle in at Dogs Trust, missing "her home comforts and constant company" since her last owner gave her up due to ill health. Pixie "craves affection and she returns it tenfold", but her last owner was unable to exercise he as much as she'd have liked in the last year.
She's still very active and enjoys long walks, and although "she's a little overweight", that should soon change once she gets back to regular exercise. Dogs Trust said: "Pixie is such a sweet girl and will make a wonderful companion for someone who is looking for a friend."
Pixie "gets a little over excited when there's lots of people about" because she hasn't had many visitors in the last 12 months, so she'd be best suited to a "fairly calm and quiet household" with the occasional visitor. A home with high school age children should be fine as she isn't used to kids.
The housetrained dog generally ignores other dogs, giving them "a very quick sniff" before going about her business, happily walking along aside them. Dogs Trust said: "She would probably appreciate being walked at times when it's quieter, and there's less chance of her having an off-lead dog run up to her."
Rolo
The "squishiest big baby you could hope to meet", Rolo the Old English mastiff "has been through the mill healthwise recently". He has hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cruciate disease, so he'll need pain relief for the rest of his life. It also means he can't manage stairs, so flats aren't an option it's on the ground floor with a private garden.
Rolo "absolutely adores people and tends to dive on them with enthusiasm", so he could do with some basic training to help him keep his "enormous paws" on the floor. He loves to play tug or be out walking, and he'll lie down like a puppy when he sees another dog approaching.
He gets along well with other dogs, but he's a big dog and his play style is "very rough", with his moves not always going down well with the others, although he will back down if the other dog tells him off. Rolo's new owner will need to carefully socialise him "to make sure his behaviours don't escalate, and that he can begin to play calmly and appropriately with others".
Dogs Trust said: "He will need to be the only dog in the home. Due to his size and exuberance, any children in Rolo's home will need to be aged 14 and above, and pretty robust. Rolo is house trained and only used to being left for an hour or two."
Rox y
Roxy the "fantastically enthusiastic pooch" is excited to meet new people and is looking for an owner to keep up with her and introduce her to "calm and appropriate pals". She can be "a little worried" around new people, but she sits "beautifully" for an introductory treat before being "made a fuss of".
She enjoys being out exploring and approaches everything with joy, but despite the Old English mastiff's large size, Roxy "can be intimidated by big dogs", shouting at them a little. She will walk with some dogs, but Dogs Trust said her new family will need "work on getting her to focus" and slowly introduce her.
Controlled instructions are a must as she's "a strong girl". She loves playing with "very robust toys", but she will chew them up, so "please be prepared to have plenty in stock". Roxy is housetrained, and her previous family left her alone for up to six hours, which will need to be built up again. She can be "very boisterous and giddy", so she can live with kids aged 14 and up.
Stella the German shepherd
This German shepherd's "short life has been quite the rollercoaster", having lived in three homes at just over a year old. Stella is "good in the home" but has "a high activity level", so she needs a family with lots of energy to "keep her mind and body busy", otherwise "she might make her own unwelcome entertainment".
She's "a clever girl" who loves water and has made friends and built confidence since being "rather wary" when she first arrive at the centre. Dogs Trust said: "She'd love to find a family that will be with her most of the day, and include her in all their fun activities."
Stella is "strong on her lead" and will bark and lunge in an attempt to say hello to other dogs while walking. She is friendly with them, but her new owner will need to properly manage this behaviour and "work on her focus". The centre said she's best suited to being the only dog at home, with "well chosen, properly introduced pals to walk with". The "playful young dog" is house trained and can live with teenagers, but not younger kids.
Suki
This "tiny little thing" is "very affectionate" and hates being alone. Suki is "a real lap dog" who snuggles "as close as she can for cuddles". She prefers this to playing with toys, but Dogs Trust is "hopeful that once she's settled into her new home, she'll feel relaxed enough to play again".
Suki needs someone with her 24/7 as she has "a lot of separation-related behaviours". She can be encouraged to increase her alone time, gradually working up from a minute once she's settled in. The Jack Russell terrier "doesn't care for other dogs", possibly due to lack of contact with them, so she'd benefit from a family who'll help build her confidence and confidence, and get her "used to walking behind calm dogs who won't bother her".
She's house trained and can live with kids of secondary school age. You'll have to monitor what Suki has access to, "and what she does with it", because she recently had surgery to remove foreign items she'd eaten.
Tony
Everyone at Dogs Trust Merseyside has "fallen a little bit in love with" 10-month-old Tony, with the centre saying he "may be one of the most handsome collies" they've ever had. The "very friendly" dog has "settled well into centre life" and is "very happy to explore the grounds".
He has "a good foundation in training", knows a few commands - including 'play dead' - and loves to play, "especially any kind of chase game". Tony adores other dogs, and it can be hard to get him to come away from them. He also has "the collie stare", which can be be "a little intense" for some less confident dogs.
Tony could live with another dog and he has lived with a cat before, but "he liked the cat more than the cat liked him". He's house trained, but he needs a family with someone around most of the time. Dogs Trust said: "He can live with children aged 10 and over, and he needs a home that is away from busy roads as he doesn't like traffic and will try to chase it, as is common in farm collies."
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