'Britain's most unwanted dog' still searching for home after 5 years in kennels

29 January 2024 , 15:09

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Mason has sadly had no luck finding a place to call home (Image: Shropshire Canine / SWNS)

A "loving" dog who has been branded Britain's most unwanted canine is continuing to look for his forever home after being abandoned five years ago.

German Shepherd Mason is desperately trying to find a permanent residence after spending five lonely years in kennels. The eight-year-old was first found looking severely thin before he was saved and given a fresh start in life at Hilbrae Rescue Kennels, near Telford, Shrops.

But he has been shunned by potential owners thousands of times since 2019, which has left him spending more than half of his life "homeless" in kennels. Marty Burrell, who has been in charge of Hilbrae for 50 years, believes Mason is "misunderstood" and isn't being considered as a potential pet due to his size. However, she says he is an "affectionate" dog who just needs to be given a chance to be loved.

Cheryl Gibson is trying to help Mason find his forever home (Shropshire Canine / SWNS)

Mason was abandoned five years ago (Shropshire Canine / SWNS)

She said: "He is a big dog but he is really affectionate when he learns to trust somebody. He just keeps being overlooked and now he's eight. We find bigger dogs do get overlooked more but not to this extent. Smaller dogs can be rehomed in a week." Marty added: "It may be due to the cost of living or people having smaller houses - but poor Mason is still here. He has a really loving nature. He is a big dog, but not a dangerous dog. He was very wary and distrustful at first but we have worked to gain his trust."

Mason has been described as 'loving' and 'affectionate' (Shropshire Canine / SWNS)

Cheryl Gibson runs Shropshire Canine pet care services and works to raise the profile of dogs in rescue centres. She has now relaunched an appeal to find Mason his forever home after dubbing him one of Britain's most unwanted dogs. Cheryl said: "This boy is so misunderstood. He's spent years in kennels. He arrived as a pup and now he's grey. He shouldn't be spending his whole life in homeless kennels." Mason is looking for a quiet home, with a family experienced with larger breeds. Staff are confident that Mason could live with a calm dog, with interested families needing to spend some time allowing him to adjust. Anyone interested in rehoming Mason is asked to contact Hilbrae Rescue Kennels.

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Adam Dutton