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Dog finds ‘forever home’ after 767 days in kennels
Roxy was often overlooked by potential new owners.
Five-year-old Roxy spent half her life with SSPCA.

A five-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier has finally found a permanent home, after she spent nearly half of her life in Scottish SPCA’s kennels.

Roxy had been in the animal welfare charity’s care for 767 days, after being surrendered by her previous owner due to their life circumstances changing.

Roxy initially struggled to adjust to life in an animal shelter. However, through the dedication of Scottish SPCA staff, she gradually became more comfortable and happy.

Despite several appeals for a new home for Roxy, she was often overlooked by potential new owners.

Then Gerrard Brown and his daughter Dawn visited the centre, looking for a rescue dog to join their family. When they saw Roxy’s photograph on the wall, they were keen to meet her.

Mr Brown said: “We instantly fell in love with her face. The team managed to arrange a meeting that same day. She came out bouncing about and was an instant bundle of joy.

“The whole family went down again to meet her and we all took her for a walk. We arranged another couple of visits and then fostered her for two weeks.”

Roxy settled in well to the family home and so, after completing the paperwork, she became an official part of the family.

Since moving into her permanent home, Roxy has been bought lots of new toys. Her owners are now focusing on training her, and getting her used to her new life.

Scottish SPCA says that, while Roxy’s case was rare, it is changing the way it works to ensure that no dog spends that length of time in a kennel again.

In 2023 the animal welfare charity saw a 25 per cent increase in arrivals, with 6,944 animals taken into rescue and rehoming centres across Scotland.

It also rehomed 3,881 animals, fostered 459 animals and treated 5,163 wild animals.

Rachel Maclean, rehabilitation operations lead, said: “Our aims for 2024 are to enhance our adoption and fostering services with an expanded team.

“This means getting animals into the right homes faster and improving the experience for animals, fosterers and adopters.”

Image © Scottish SPCA

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.