Britain's loneliest dog still searching for a forever home after almost 500 days

15 May 2023 , 14:22

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Duke the dog waiting for a new home (Image: Blue Cross / SWNS)

One of Britain's loneliest dogs is still looking for his forever home almost 500 days later.

Staffordshire bull terrier Duke has been with the Blue Cross since January last year when his owner was ill and could no longer care for him.

The 10-year-old pooch has been waiting to be adopted for 460 days and has been overlooked despite numerous appeals.

Staff at the rehoming centre in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, have been working with Duke to help prepare him for a forever home and say he would make a "wonderful pet".

The unlucky mutt has yet to meet his new owner despite him being a "sweet and lovable boy brimming with personality".

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Duke has been waiting for nearly 500 days for his forever home (Blue Cross / SWNS)

Laura Coveney, Blue Cross rehoming supervisor, said: "Duke found kennels so tough, to the point it was affecting both his mental and physical health.

"He was so stressed and was not coping at all.

"He was then in and out of what we call 'bed and breakfast' foster care, which meant he didn't need to stay in kennels overnight, but he still wasn't coping with the back and forth."

Duke later went into permanent foster with Christine Tilt, who became a foster carer for Blue Cross in 2022 having been a lifelong supporter, alongside her late husband.

Duke in Blue Cross foster home with volunteer Christine (Blue Cross / SWNS)

Christine said: "He's got so much character. He just wants to be loved. It will just be so lovely to see him go to a new home.

"I know he'll be happy and know that he'll settle down easily as he's so loveable, and very easy to live with."

Laura, who visits Duke every week for training sessions, added: "It's frustrating that we can't show what a lovely companion he is, and how easy he is to live with.

Duke has been described as 'lovable' (Blue Cross / SWNS)

"It's such a shame as he would perfectly fit into so many families' lives.

"He's the dog people are looking for - they just don't realise it.

"And so, they don't look in his direction. If you ask them what they want from a dog, it's Duke. He's the ultimate rescue dog.

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"Duke's the dog who proves the saying 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' is wrong.

"He's learnt so much since he's been with Christine. He's just been really unlucky. It's heartbreaking."

Anyone wishing to offer Duke a new home can do so by visiting bluecross.org.uk.

Alahna Kindred