Big dogs face longer adoption wait, RSPCA says
Scooby has been waiting 550 days for a permanent home.
New data released by the RSPCA has revealed that large dog breeds face waits up to seven times longer than small breeds for adoptive homes.
The statistics, shared as part of the charity’s Adoptober campaign, comes after the charity reached an adoption ‘crisis point’ this summer.
This year saw RSPCA report a record number of rescued dogs being kept in their care. Most of these dogs had to be kept in private kennels, since the national centres were too full to take them.
The breed with the longest wait, averaged over a six-year period, was the Alaskan Malamute. This breed has to wait an average of 147 days for a new home.
Also at the top of the list was the presa canaria (94 days), shar-pei (80 days) and greyhound (74). This is much higher than the average wait time for all breeds of dog, which is currently at 41 days.
In contrast, smaller dog breeds face a much shorter wait before finding their forever home. Cocker spaniels will wait an average of 16 days for a home, chihuahuas wait an average of 12 days, while Yorkshire terriers have an average wait of just seven days.
One large-breed dog facing this extended wait is lurcher Scooby. He has already been waiting 550 days, or around 18 months, for a permanent home.
Scooby was rescued in February 2024, having been found severely emaciated and weak. After much care at the RSPCA Wirral & Chester branch he is now a healthy weight, and has proven to be a loving, energetic and playful dog.
Glenn Mayoll, RSPCA operations manager, said: “We’d really love potential adopters to keep a more open mind when it comes to bigger breeds.
“Bull breeds like mastiffs and bulldogs are often perceived as aggressive, when there’s no evidence that any one breed is more aggressive than another. In fact, like all dogs, some can actually be a bit nervous and fearful - big softies who need owners to help build their confidence.”
Those interested in adopting a large-breed dog, or any other dog in RSPCA’s care, should visit their Findapet website.
Image © RSPCA
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