Eight cute inmates who deserve to find a home

Oct 13 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

Meet the dogs in need of a home - click here for our picture gallery

THE eight longest-serving residents all have heartbreaking stories as to how they ended up at Merseyside’s Dogs Trust – yet all of them are continually overlooked by prospective owners.

And with the kennels in Whiston Lane, Huyton, running at capacity after many dog owners gave up their pets after tragic Ellie Lawrenson was killed by her uncle’s pit bull, staff at the charity are desperate to get their “long-timers” new loving homes.

The Trust contacted the Liverpool Daily Post to appeal to the public to consider re-homing one of the dogs, to not only free up kennel space but to relieve the dogs from stress of being in kennels long term.

Nicole McIlveen, supporter relations officer at Dogs Trust Merseyside, said: “We have over 100 dogs at the moment and are running at capacity.

“We have taken in more and more dogs this year following the tragic death of Ellie Lawrenson from families who are concerned about the safety of their pets so desperately need to re-home dogs as quickly as possible.

“Puppies are always snapped up quickly as are certain breeds. But many of these long-timers are consistently overlooked by potential owners and we just cannot understand why.

“We have some beautiful, loving dogs who have been with us for almost four years but have never been offered a home. We try, in cases like this, to get them foster homes but they deserve something permanent.

“All of these dogs would make someone the ideal pet and it is imperative that we get them out of the kennel environment and into a loving home as quickly as possible. They have been through enough already and deserve to spend the rest of their days being loved and appreciated in a home environment.

“The Dogs Trust will never put a healthy dog down so we need to keep the re-homing process as short as possible to allow us to take more dogs in.

“Kennel places are always in demand in Merseyside and we just hope some of these dog’s stories will tug on people’s heartstrings so that they offer them a good home.”

Nine-year-old Staffordshire Terrier Meg was brought into the centre when she suffered brain damage, which has left her partially sighted. Ms McIlveen said: “Meg is one of the most affectionate and cutest looking dogs but again she is constantly overlooked. She is such a beautiful lady and walks as if she was a catwalk model. Her legs were affected by her brain injury and sometimes if she gets excited she can fall over.

“She is so gentle and cuddly and just needs someone to love her.

“Because she is short-sighted she just loves to rest her head on you and feel that contact.”

Three-year-old Slim was found injured after a road traffic accident. He has had to undergo surgery to his hind legs but has made a full recovery.

And poor Pudsey is staying at the centre for the second time after being returned after four years by his second owners who could no longer keep him when they moved home.

The Merseyside branch is holding its annual charity dinners at the Liner Hotel, Liverpool, on Friday, October 26.

The evening’s entertainment will start at 7pm with a drinks reception, followed by a three-course meal, disco, casino, caricaturist and a raffle.

For tickets call 0151 4826425 or email nicole.mcilveen@dogstrust. org.uk. Tickets cost £37.50.

TO SEE video footage of all eight dogs and to hear their full stories log on to the Daily Post website at www.liverpooldaily post.co.uk from Monday.

carolineinnes