'Underdogs' struggling to find forever homes

6 hours ago

Holly Rattley,Wiltshireand

Sue Davies,BBC Radio Wiltshire

News image — Brian spent 579 days at Bath Cats and Dogs Home

Bath Cats and Dogs Home Handsome husky-type dog with clear hazel eyes and a slim, white blaze down the centre of his face, waiting expectantly in a sunny place with grass in the background. — Brian spent 579 days at Bath Cats and Dogs Home

Some cats and dogs are struggling to find their forever homes due to their appearance, age, or unfair stereotypes, animal rescue charities say.

Salisbury Dogs Trust in Wiltshire has seven animals dubbed underdogs, meaning they have been in care for more than six months.

Meanwhile, Bath Cats and Dogs Home said it is inundated with animals at "the pet equivalent of adolescence", with 70% of dogs and 16% of cats between six months and two years old.

Abi Tate, rehoming manager, said one reason some dogs are overlooked is because online profiles only tell part of the story. She urged people to visit centres so they can connect with a dog's personality.

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Harriet Lowther A woman with grey-blue hair, glasses and wearing denim dungarees sat in the open door way of her art studio holding a black and white cat, with a large beige-coloured dog lying down next to her - with pieces of art of cats on the wall in the background. — Illustrator Harriet Lowther has created a series of photographs of animals in shelters to 'highlight certain groups'

It comes as illustrator, Harriet Lowther, has transformed the unique quirks of some animals at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home into a clothing line to raise money for the charity.

Lowther spent time at Battersea to inspire her illustrations which "highlight certain groups of animals".

The charity's rehoming manager, Sorrel Magenta, praised the Chiseldon-based illustrator for raising "crucial awareness" for "overlooked rescue animals".

"We do often find a lot of cats and dogs coming into us because of their age, appearance, or unfair stereotypes," she said.

Harriet Lowther Numerous pens and pencils and a paint palette covering a table with a lap top screen in the background displaying an image of a large dog. — Lowther spent time at Battersea to transform some of the rescue animals' unique appearances and personalities into fashion art

Of the dog trust's current cohort of underdogs, 47% are classed as large-sized dogs.

Rescue dogs spend 58.5 days on average at a centre before being rehomed.

But Hartley - a four-year-old large hound - has been living at the Salisbury Dogs Trust for just under a year.

The charity puts cases like Hartley's down to "common myths". Many believe larger dogs require more exercise than smaller dogs, which is not always the case.

Dog's Trust A large brown and white hound dog standing with a woman - Salisbury Dogs Trust re-homing manager, Abi Tate, with long brown hair, kneeling next to the dog with her arm around him, and grass and trees in the background. — Tate with 'underdog' Hartley who has been at the Salisbury Dogs Trust for just under a year

Age is also a major factor, with many animals deemed undesirable for being too old, or too young.

Brian, a husky-type dog, arrived at Bath Cats and Dogs Home in the middle of his teenage phase "full of energy and far stronger than he realised". He spent 579 days under the shelter's care.

Nicky Charman, behaviour and training manager, said: "Many of the behaviours we see in adolescent dogs - such as pulling on the lead or poor recall - are not signs of defiance, but of inconsistent training and structure

"With patience and guidance, these dogs can mature into well-adjusted companions."

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