A dog who was going round and round in circles confined in a tiny crate before she was rescued by the RSPCA is now enjoying her freedom – but has yet to receive any interest from potential adopters.
Staffordshire bull terrier Tess has spent 16 months being looked after by the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk & District Branch after she was found in a property in the north west in June 2022.
The friendly nine-year-old Staffie and a number of other dogs were living in crates in unsuitable conditions and were removed by RSPCA officers over concerns for their welfare.
The dogs were cared for at various RSPCA rehoming centres and many of them have since been adopted. Because of her background, Tess has needed ongoing support and was only ready to start looking for a new home this September. But sadly she hasn’t received a single application since, and staff at the animal centre in New Cut Lane in Southport are baffled as to why she’s received so little interest.
Her story is being highlighted as part of the RSPCA’s month-long Adoptober rehoming campaign which aims to shine a light on the many animals like her who are still waiting for their forever home.
Sophie Hubble, from the Southport, Ormskirk & District branch, said: “Tess had been living in a very small crate in wholly unsuitable conditions and her mental and physical health had suffered as a result. But she’s made tremendous progress since, and despite what she’s been through she’s a really friendly girl who is full of beans and really enjoys human company and meeting new people. She also loves toys – especially her tennis ball – and she’d be quite happy playing throw and fetch with you all day.
“It’s been a long road to recovery for Tess and she’s become a firm favourite with all the staff and volunteers who really look forward to taking her out for a walk or just having a little cuddle. We think her age is possibly putting people off, but we’d urge people to look beyond that as she’s a dog who still has so much love to give. She’s really blossomed and deserves to be in a loving home of her own – she’ll make a wonderful family pet.”
Tess is a quick learner and knows basic commands but she’d benefit from positive reward-based training which is something her new owners will need to continue to support her with. She also has a minor dry skin condition which can make her feel itchy from time to time, but this is improving with medication and is something that will be discussed with potential adopters.
She can be rehomed with older children aged 10+ but no other pets. Anyone interested in adopting her should visit the branch’s website for further details.
The RSPCA’s month-long Adoptober rehoming campaign, which ends today (31 October), has been promoting adoption and highlighting the many animals the charity has in its care waiting to find their perfect match. Worryingly, more people are relinquishing pets than are adopting – leaving rescue centres full. This follows a collapse in rehoming rates which have fallen by 30 percent from three years ago, when 39,178 animals were rehomed by the RSPCA, compared to 27,535 in 2022.
Between 2020 and 2022, the average time it took to rehome a dog in the charity’s care was 39 days (46 days for Staffordshire bull terriers). But sadly for some animals like Tess, the wait is much longer.
