The RSPCA launches a special rehoming drive, Adoptober to help find homes for dogs of all shapes and sizes.
The RSCPA found homes for nearly 7,700 dogs last year and while Staffies and their crosses are still the most rescued type, designer dogs are appearing more in the charity’s rehoming centres. 
As part of the RSPCA’s special rehoming drive Adoptober, new figures have been released showing that while pure-breed and crossbreed Staffies, Lurchers, Jack Russell terriers and German Shepherds are still the most common dog to come into its care, more trendy ‘handbag’ breeds and fashionable crossbreeds are also ending up in the charity’s 17 national animal centres.
The number of chihuahuas coming in the RSPCA’s care has gone up by 700% in the last seven years (14 in 2012 to 112 in 2018), while the number of French bulldogs is up 236%, Dachshunds are up by 600% and Pomeranians are up 440%.
The charity is also seeing more crossbreeds and breeds used for popular crosses- such as cocker spaniels and poodles – arriving in its centres as inspectors shut down puppy farms and collect abandoned dogs and puppies.
Last year, the RSPCA rescued 5,930 dogs from abuse and neglect in England and received 1,175,193 calls to its 24-hour cruelty hotline about animals nationally.
The charity’s branches and centres across England and Wales rehomed 7,692 dogs- that’s 21 dogs every day.
RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens, said: “Although Staffies, Lurchers, Jack Russell terriers and German Shepherds are still the most common dogs coming into our centres, we are seeing a general decrease in their numbers while seeing an increase in the number of fashionable crossbreeds and so-called designer dogs like Dachshunds and French Bulldogs arriving in our care.
“We know that the animals coming into our care tend to reflect general dog ownership trends and there’s been a huge surge in recent years in people buying ‘designer dogs’ and crossbreeds such as cavachons, puggles and cockerpoos.
“As part of our rehoming drive this Octover – called Adoptober – we want to shine a light on all of the dogs in our care and encourage people to adopt a rescue dog instead of buying a puppy. All the animals in our care have a lot of love to give and we have a huge variety of dogs in our kennels waiting for homes, of all ages, shapes, sizes and breeds.”
Adoptober is a rehoming drive to raise awareness of some of the animals in RSPCA care who is so desperately need a forever home.
Staffie cross, Faith (pictured) has been waiting for the right home for 1,000 days this week (Sunday 6 October) and is hoping this will be the month she find her paw-fect new home.
If you think you can offer an RSPCA rescue dog a new home you can visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet to find your paw-fect match.
