RSPCA’s longest-stay dog seeks permanent home
Mia recently celebrated her fifth birthday at the RSPCA's Southridge Animal Centre.
The RSPCA has renewed its appeal for a home for Mia, a five-year-old Dutch shepherd, as she reaches 700 days in its care.
It forms part of the charity’s Adoptober October campaign as it raises awareness for over 118 dogs, cats and other animals which have been waiting over 100 days for a home.
The RSPCA rescued Mia from poor living conditions as a puppy, arranging foster care for her before she became available for adoption in November 2022. She is currently being looked after at the RSPCA’s Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire, where she recently celebrated her fifth birthday.
Despite the team saying she has an affectionate nature, she is yet to find a permanent home – making her the RSPCA’s ‘most unwanted dog’.
Karen Colman, who leads RSPCA’s rehoming team, said: “All of us at the centre find Mia's situation really sad, heartbreaking and frustrating.
“We cannot understand why such a lovely, clever, deserving rescue dog has still not been adopted - we really hope things turn around for her during this Adoptober rehoming month.”
New data released by the RSPCA reveals that the average wait time for animals in its care has increased by over 31 per cent in the past five years. This is an increase from 31.7 days in 2019 to 41.4 days in 2023.
In many rehoming centres and branches animals are waiting for 100 days or more to be adopted.
This has left the RSPCA’s rehoming centres full to capacity, meaning the charity has to pay for emergency boarding centres while they wait for space. While animals are waiting to find a home, the centres have fewer spaces available for rescued animals to come in.
The charity says one reason for its rehoming crisis is that it prioritises animals which have experienced cruelty and neglect.
These animals need the most veterinary and behavioural support for rehabilitation, making them more difficult to rehome. They require experienced owners who have the knowledge and patience to continue this rehabilitation at home.
Ms Colman said: “Our rehoming centres are crying out for people who have the desire, dedication, time, facilities and willingness to step forward and offer to adopt our long stay animals.
“They can do this with the confidence that the RSPCA rehoming team will give them all the help, advice and support they need to make the animals transition from centre to home a positive one.”
For more information about adopting Mia, visit her page. More animals awaiting adoption can be found here.
Image © RSPCA
Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
