Meet the RSPCA rescue dogs from all over the UK who have waited the longest for their forever homes - including a County Durham lurcher who the charity are still hoping will 'come out of his shell.'
Nervous lurcher Bandit is one of many dogs across the UK who is proving difficult to rehome. Some dogs can take longer to rehome for a number of reasons, including health problems, behavioural challenges, and long-running investigations, reports The Express.
Statistics show that more than three million households bought a pet in the first year of the pandemic alone, but many more remain in desperate need of a loving home. Here are eight dogs, including Bandit, that the RSPCA is desperate to rehome.
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Bandit - in a shelter for 513 days
Shy boy Bandit is eight years old and has been hunting for a home for more than a year after being rescued in County Durham. He's very nervous and doesn't like to be touched, but the RSPCA hopes he'll come out of his shell soon.
Emma Cosby, who takes care of him, said: "It took us a lot of time and patience to gradually introduce him to different people and how to be handled positively but now he’s built some wonderful bonds with the team here. He enjoys a fuss and loves to spend time out and about with our staff and volunteers.
He's also a sociable boy and likes to go out for walks with his doggy friends but can still find the world and new people scary so needs an understanding owner who can give him the time and space he needs to settle and gain in confidence. I just don’t understand why Bandit has received such little interest, it’s heart-breaking. Bandit dreams of the days he will find his new cosy home.
"We understand that he’s nervous and he’ll need committed owners who are willing to come and meet him multiple times before taking him home. But we fear that people are being put off of applying for him because of his muzzle and the misunderstanding around their use.
"He has so much love to give and we’re pleading with anyone who has been thinking of getting a dog to please consider him and give him a chance."
Bandit loves to run and zoom off-lead and then head back to his bed for a long snooze. Though he's been enjoying walks with other dogs, he's nervous around bouncy and boisterous dog and the RSPCA say he would suit a home where he is the only pet - he is unable to live with children.
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Eric - in a shelter for 971 days
Dutch herder Eric was saved from a filthy house with his mum and seven siblings 971 days ago and he's the last of his family still waiting to be adopted. The RSPCA says a rural home would be best for Eric who is fully of energy, though he can be nervous at times.
Kelly Legg, from RSPCA Birmingham, said: "Eric has spent almost his entire life in our care and all he knows is life here with us. Because he’s been with us for so long, he has missed out on a lot of 'real life' and we’ve really struggled to find the right match for him.
"He really is the most loyal lad once he gets to know you. He’s extremely clever and needs to have his brain challenged, but he needs time to adjust to new people and build up a bond with them too."
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Snowy - in a shelter for 544 days
The bouncy Staffordshire bull terrier has been in kennels for 16 months and staff at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre can't understand why no-one has taken her home yet. Kelly Legg looks after her along with Eric, and said: "Snowy loves a fuss and has lots of energy so she’ll need someone who can keep up with her.
"She absolutely loves to play but be warned: soft toys don’t last long around her. It’s really important that Snowy’s new owners understand how important it is to adhere to these rules and, sadly, we think the muzzle is putting potential adopters off."
Snowy would be best suited to an adult-only home or a family home with older children who are confident around dogs and she'll need to be the only pet. Her adopters will need an enclosed, secure garden.
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Joe and Zac - in a shelter for 424 days
Alaskan Malamutes Joe and Zac have been waiting for more than a year to find their forever home together. Six-year-old Joe and eight-year-old Zac were recued by officers in April 2021 as part of a large group of dogs who had been living outside.
They were filthy, had matted coats and would not interact with people. Now at the Birmingham Care Centre with Eric and Snowy, they need a patient owner who would be willing to take them on as a pair.
Which dog would you be most likely to adopt from this list? Let us know!
Charlie - in a shelter for 513 days
Charlie has been in a shelter for the exact same amount of time as Bandit, yet they are at two different centres and weren't brought in together. He has been waiting for a new home since he was rescued from a rundown barn in Ceredigion, West Wales, last January along with 44 other dogs.
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The five-year-old crossbreed is now Newport RSPCA's longest-stay dog despite "coming out of his shell." Two potential adoptions have fallen through, but hopefully a third will find him his forever.
Kathryn Logan, Newport RSPCA deputy manager, said: "For the first few weeks he wouldn’t move from the corner of his kennel, and it was only when he began to trust his carers and feel more at ease that he would place his chin on our hand. It wasn’t until four months later that he was confident enough to take his first steps outside the kennel."
Charlie likes long walks, rolling around in the grass, and lots of attention. His sociable nature means he would benefit from living with another calm and confident male dog or neutered female.
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Scout- in a shelter for 940 days
Eight-year-old lurcher Scout has been at Bath Dogs & Cats Home since November 2019. He was found by an RSPCA inspector and has a sweet nature.
Rachel Jones, Chief Executive there, said: "He is a lovely older boy. The team here love him but he just hasn't found a home yet.
"He is shy so he's looking for a quiet home, obviously with lots of love. It does take time for Scout to get to know new people so that can make it harder for him sometimes. Once he knows you and trusts you, he is lovely."
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Hades - in a shelter for 271 days
Two year old Labrador cross Hades has struggled in finding a match since arriving at an RSPCA centre in Gloucestershirein September last year. He has some specific needs due to his difficult start in life, but staff at Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home say he's "big, lovely and bouncy" and he'd make a great pet.
Harry Medlock, from the centre, said: "We've worked hard with him and he can now manage in busy areas but there are some things which he can still find daunting so we’d like his owners to understand that they’ll need to be patient with him."
Hades, who is named after the Ancient Greek god of the dead and the underworld, is said to be intelligent and enjoy training. However, he has lived most of his life outside so will need time to adjust to a new setting.
Dotty - in a shelter for 333 days
Staffordshire bull terrier Dotty was taken in by the RSPCA in July 2021 after being rescued underweight and suffering from a skin condition. She had been previously kept locked in a bedroom with little socialisation in Dorset.
Now aged eight, she's looking for a home where she'll be the only pet and will have access to a private and secure garden. She needs to wear a muzzle and go for walks in quiet, rural locations where possible as she can be reactive when out and about.
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