A rescue dog who spent 21 months at Dogs Trust Darlington Rehoming Centre has landed on his paws by finding true love with his new owner.
Jacqui Dunn from Prudhoe in Northumberland feels she is the lucky one after adopting seven-year-old Lurcher Badger in July, who she describes as “the sweetest, most adorable dog ever.”
Badger came into Dogs Trust care from Ireland in November 2021 who no information about his past life. He found life in kennels stressful and sadly attracted little interest from anyone looking to adopt so was promoted as an ‘underdog’ – which is the term given to a dog that has been overlooked and spent more than six months in Dogs Trust care.
In June this year Jacqui, who lost her beloved rescue dog Otis to cancer in March, completed an online application form for another dog at Darlington rehoming centre, but as they already had a new home lined up, Badger was suggested as a possible match. Jacqui wasn’t looking for a specific breed of dog so was very open to adopting a Lurcher.
It was a gradual process getting to know Badger involving numerous visits to the centre which then progressed to short home visits with his canine carer Jacob. Badger then spent longer periods of time with Jacqui before having an overnight stay. During the home visits there were lots of little signs that Badger was comfortable and relaxed including when he first jumped on Jaqui’s bed and lay down which was an emotional moment for both Jacqui and Jacob, and it was when she knew that Badger was her boy.
Jacqui said: “Badger is absolutely perfect in my eyes. He has his little quirks, including being uncomfortable when he sees other dogs, but I work around them as he works around mine. I am gobsmacked he was in kennels for so long and I feel it is my good fortune that nobody was interested in him as I couldn’t ask for a sweeter dog.
“When Otis died earlier this year, I missed the companionship and routine of dog ownership. I am 100 percent happier now having Badger by my side. He is brilliant with my grandchildren and we most enjoy walks and nights on the sofa together. My house is a home again after welcoming Badger into my life.
“To anyone thinking of getting a dog I would say please consider a rescue dog and don’t let the length of time they have been in kennels put you off. Be honest with Dogs Trust staff and fully explain your circumstances, they are there to help you every step of the way. Do your research and be prepared to be patient to give the dog time to adapt to their new life. Badger’s personality has always been there, he just needed someone to give him a chance so he could truly shine.”
Despite their loving natures, Lurchers often spend longer in Dogs Trust care than other breeds. They were the third most popular breed of dog rehomed by Dogs Trust last year, with 524 finding loving new homes in 2022. The team at Dogs Trust Darlington are currently caring for nine Lurchers, including ‘underdogs’ Bella, Flash and Maggie.
To find out more about the breed or to see the Lurchers currently in Dogs Trust care waiting to be adopted click here – https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/breeds/lurcher
To enable more dogs than ever before to find their forever homes, Dogs Trust is changing its adoption process. Previously, hopeful adopters applied for specific dogs, meaning some dogs were overlooked, and adopters often put in multiple applications. However, thanks to its new system, Dogs Trust will use details provided by potential adopters on their home and lifestyle to match them with the right dog. This means that more dogs like Badger will be matched to their perfect home, and more adopters will find the perfect dog for them.
