One of Britain's loneliest dogs is still searching for a new home after almost 500 days at a rescue centre. Staffordshire bull terrier Duke came into the care of the Blue Cross at the end of January last year as his owner was ill and could no longer care for him.
The ten-year-old pooch has now been with the animal charity for more than 460 days and has been overlooked by potential new owners despite numerous appeals. Staff at the rehoming centre have been working with Duke to help prepare him for a forever home and say he would make a "wonderful pet." But so far nobody has been willing to offer the unlucky canine a new place to live despite him being a "sweet and lovable boy brimming with personality".
Laura Coveney, Blue Cross rehoming supervisor, said: “Duke found kennels so tough, to the point it was affecting both his mental and physical health. He was so stressed and was not coping at all. He was then in and out of what we call ‘bed and breakfast’ foster care, which meant he didn’t need to stay in kennels overnight, but he still wasn’t coping with the back and forth.”
Duke later went into permanent foster with Christine Tilt, who became a foster carer for Blue Cross in 2022 having been a lifelong supporter, alongside her late husband.
Christine said: “He’s got so much character. He just wants to be loved. It will just be so lovely to see him go to a new home. I know he’ll be happy and know that he’ll settle down easily as he’s so loveable, and very easy to live with.”
Laura, who visits Duke every week for training sessions, added: “It’s frustrating that we can’t show what a lovely companion he is and how easy he is to live with. It’s such a shame as he would perfectly fit into so many families’ lives.
"He’s the dog people are looking for – they just don’t realise it. And so they don’t look in his direction. If you ask them what they want from a dog, it’s Duke. He’s the ultimate rescue dog.
“Duke’s the dog who proves the saying ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is wrong. He’s learned so much since he’s been with Christine. He’s just been really unlucky. It’s heartbreaking.”
Anyone wishing to offer Duke, who is at the centre in in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, a new home can do so by visiting bluecross.org.uk
