THE RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting ‘every kind’ of dog this Adoptober as the charity is struggling with record numbers of dogs in its care.
It is hoped that Adoptober – the RSPCA’s annual rehoming campaign – will be the month for Teddy to finally find his forever home.
Teddy is a Lurcher crossbreed who is just four years old and is being cared for by RSPCA Isle of Thanet Branch. He has been looking for a home for the past few months and has not had any interest!
In 2024 the RSPCA as a whole across its centres and branches rehomed a staggering 26,167 animals. Branches are part of the RSPCA but run as charities in their own right and work incredibly hard to rehome and rehabilitate animals across England and Wales.
But Teddy’s rehoming appeal comes as the RSPCA reveals it is facing a rehoming crisis with record numbers of rescued dogs in care across RSPCA animal national centres and branches.
While new data from the charity* reveals that it can take up to seven times longer for some larger dog breeds to find a new home compared to smaller dogs.
RSPCA pet behaviour expert Dr Sam Gaines said: “We urgently need homes for big dogs, who can wait seven times longer than smaller dogs to find their forever home.
“We are in an unprecedented rehoming crisis as several large-scale cruelty and neglect cases have led to record numbers of dogs and cats in our care and are at risk of running out of space. We desperately need adopters now more than ever, so we can continue to rescue and care for the animals who need us.
“It’s the perfect storm with dogs rescued from cruelty and neglect needing longer to recover and needing more specialist homes, and at the same time, rehoming has slowed right across the welfare sector.”
Sam added: “Our unique and special dogs may not be the right pet for everyone. Some need some extra help to help them recover from their past, some are misunderstood because of the way they look, some need quiet homes with no other pets, and others need owners who can keep up with their boundless zest for life.
“But we know the right people are out there and urgently need to hear from them.
Gentle giants, big softies and larger than life characters; we’ve got every kind of big dog, each one is unique, special and deserves a second chance of happiness.”
RSPCA Isle of Thanet Branch Centre manager Hannah White said: “Teddy is an incredibly loving, eager to learn and playful dog!
“We would love Teddy to be adopted by a family who already have a dog at home as a dog who can reassure Teddy that being at home is safe and comfortable, but also to give him a playmate!
“We’re looking for somebody to be home a lot to support Teddy and a family who are willing to continue his training at home. Keeping his training going will only contribute to his success, and we will be here to advise and support his new owners.
“This includes keeping him settled around strangers and new dogs and teaching him how to feel comfortable at home. Teddy is muzzle trained and enjoys hopping into his crate as his safe space or just for a snooze, though the door is always open. It would be ideal if his new family lived fairly locally to our centre, therefore we can be close for support.”
Teddy has had a complex journey as he has spent a long time in kennels – with staff giving him the TLC he needed and training plan to help him manage his anxieties.
Teddy has made great bonds with some of our other dogs, and some who come to training classes at our centre,” said Hannah. “He has also built wonderful bonds with our staff and volunteers and we continue to broaden his world with new dogs, people and off-site environments.
“Adopters will be entitled to five weeks free training classes here at our centre; some of this training Teddy has already aced – and he’ll maybe get to see some of his pals too.
“We really hope that this Adoptober will be Teddy’s lucky month and he’ll soon be snuggling down with his new forever family.”
Teddy will not be able to live with cats or other small furries. To find out more about Teddy please contact the branch via 01843 826180 or you can email [email protected]
Getting a pet brings a lot of joy, but before committing, it’s important to understand the costs. The RSPCA pet cost calculator can help you prepare. It’s also important to consider pet insurance to protect against unexpected costs.
