Dogs Trust Leeds is hoping that some of their longest stay residents will be lucky in love this year.
These 10 dogs have different personalities and come in many different shapes and sizes, but the one thing they have in common is the desire to find a loving family. The team at the Leeds charity is hoping that they will be waving a fond, but teary farewell, to all of these very special dogs in 2023 – all that’s needed are devoted owners to come forward and offer them a spot in their hearts and homes.
Amanda Sands, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Leeds, says:
“Sadly, these dogs are some of the most overlooked pooches in our care, but they are all so deserving of a forever home, and we’re hopeful that this year will be the year they find that.
“However long a dog is with us, whether it’s a week or two or several years, we work with them, focusing on whatever will help them find their perfect home and when that pays off it’s an incredible feeling.
“These dogs needed quite specific homes to suit their needs so we’d love to hear from any dedicated dog lovers looking to take on a rescue dog to come forward and chat to us.”
If you think you could give any of these dogs their forever home, or would like to know more about any of the dogs waiting to find new families at Dogs Trust Leeds, please go to www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming
ALFIE
Alfie is a super smart three-year old Collie who arrived in February 2021. He’s a fun and clever lad who will be perfect for someone who loves all the classic traits of his breed and will give him the kind of physical and mental stimulation he needs. Once he has got to know you, which will take a good few visits to the centre, he will show you how playful he is.
He loves his toys and would play fetch all day if he could. He’s not one for much physical fuss and prefers to show his love in more interactive ways. Being a real food lover, he is very easy to train and loves learning, so he needs his adopters to be ready to keep this training going in the home and work with our team to get the best out of him.
Alfie will need an adult-only home with no other pets and minimal comings and goings initially. He is timid around other dogs and prefers to avoid them if he can. He will need to be walked in quieter areas where he can fully relax and enjoy his time out and about. He travels well so won’t mind being driven to more secluded walking spots. He’ll need a private, secure garden so he has somewhere to play off-lead. He isn’t used to being left alone so will need someone around all the time and any alone time will need to be built up slowly. Alfie will need his new family to be passionate about dog training as he is doing really well at the centre and we want this to continue in his home.
BLOSSOM
Young Blossom is a one-year-old Crossbreed who arrived originally as a young pup after being after being found as a stray. She has been rehomed and returned once already, so she is looking for very committed owners. She needs to be the only pet in her home and she’ll need some help honing her doggie skills. Due to her bouncy nature, and her training requirements, she needs an adult-only home with owners who have a passion for dog training in order to keep her on the right tracks. She’ll need someone around all the time until she’s fully settled into her new life. She needs to build her confidence around travelling so only homes within an hour’s drive of the Leeds rehoming centre will be considered.
Blossom has a real love of life, is very enthusiastic and she’s rather energetic. She loves a lot of attention and adores snuggles – 10 minutes with her and you’ll be in love. Plus, she has bags of potential and enjoys learning new things. Her adopters must be prepared to continue the training her carers have put in place.
BEAU
Two-year-old Lurcher Beau came into Dogs Trust Leeds in August 2021. He loves being trained and learning new things so is looking for dedicated adopters who have a real passion for dog training and will be happy to work with our team to continue to bring out the very best in him. He can be a strong lad so any children in the home would need to be over 16. He’s working hard on his doggy socialisation, but he isn’t looking to share his home with any other pets. He can struggle with unfamiliar people so a calm home with few visitors would be ideal. He loves a good run around off-lead and is very playful, so a secure private garden with a high fence will be required too.
All Beau’s handlers utterly adore him and that’s due to his passion for life. He loves getting out for his walkies. Although a previous problem with his legs means he’ll never be a hill walker, he’ll certainly enjoy joining you for a nice day out somewhere quiet. He had a very unsettled start to life, but he’s overcome many of his problems and has proven himself to be a fun, playful and very affectionate dog. In the right home, and with a little time and patience, Beau will continue to flourish.
CLEO
Cleo is a five-year-old Crossbreed who arrived in June 2021 due to a change in her owner’s circumstances. She is a real live wire with bundles of energy! Cleo can be a little shy at first but soon comes round and when she does you have a best friend for life! She loves toys, and thoroughly enjoys playing with a tennis ball.
Cleo is seeking active adopters in a home with a private garden with secure fencing.
She can get a bit vocal when she sees other dogs and prefers to walk in quiet areas, which is easily managed as she is more than happy to jump in the car for an adventure! She’s lively so young children won’t suit her, but children over 12 who enjoy being around bubbly, playful dogs will be fine.
She is a super smart cookie and picks up training very quickly so the team would love to find her a home with people who are as passionate about her training as she’s so much fun.
BILLY
Golden oldie Billy is an 11-year-old Patterdale Terrier who has been at Dogs Trust Leeds for around nine months.
If you are a fan of the cheeky character, bubbly energy and all-round fun that comes with the Patterdale Terrier breed then you will LOVE little Billy! He might be in his twilight years old but he hasn’t realised that yet! He’s full of life and loves being around people. He’s super friendly with everyone he meets. He won’t be able to be left alone to start with and his new owners will need to let him settle in at his own pace.
Although he can be a bit barky around unknown dogs, he is manageable and if slowly introduced he can have the occasional walking buddy. He doesn’t want to share his home with any other pets though because he’s not one to share the limelight. A secure garden will be needed as he likes to have somewhere to explore off-lead. Billy could live with children over 16 years old if they are confident around playful dogs. You will need to be prepared to share the sofa with him as this is where he likes to snuggle with his family! Once you and Billy have bonded you will find him very playful but also incredibly affectionate too. Billy has some medical needs which can be discussed in more detail with potential adopters. One thing’s for sure though, with Billy in your life you’ll never be lost for an adventure!
CHEEKA
Nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, Cheeka, came into Dogs Trust Leeds in June 2021 after her owner passed away. She is a real snuggle monster and adores relaxing on the sofa with her favourite humans and will happily make a big fuss of everyone she meets. She is happier in familiar places and her true personality shines through so a good routine and a less adventurous owner who is around all the time would suit her fine. She would need an adult-only home and whilst she’d prefer to be the only pet, she is able to be around other dogs when out and about as long as they aren’t too OTT around her. She would love a quiet home away from busy roads and with access to quiet walks on the doorstep. She is great company and needs a very special owner to cherish and shower her with love.
Cheeka is on medication for her skin which may be ongoing so her new owners will need to consider the ongoing costs of this. Cheeka will need to build up a good relationship with her owners before being adopted which will involve lots of bonding sessions at the centre followed by several home visits and eventually a sleep over in her new pad. This means that her owners will need to live within an hour’s drive of the centre.
JAKE
Eight-year-old Lurcher Jake is Dogs Trust Leeds’ longest term lodger, after spending 3.5 years in their care
Jake is one of the sweetest, most loving dogs you could ever wish to meet. He likes to take his time to get to know you properly but if you give him the space he needs initially then in no time he’ll be your shadow! He’s super foody so if there are a few treats on offer he’ll show you all his training moves. He really enjoys his walkies in quiet areas as sadly he’s worried by other dogs and prefers to stay away from them and happily wears his muzzle out and about. He’s so affectionate that he’ll spend the whole day snuggling on the sofa with you if give him the chance and all his handlers look forward to spending time with him.
Jake is incredibly loving and likes to have his humans around all the time. He’d need a good settling in period before building up any alone time. He’s a sensitive soul who is easily unsettled by noise so needs a calm and quiet home in a peaceful area. He is worried by other dogs and unfamiliar people, so his home must be adult only with no visiting children and few visitors generally and he’ll need to be the only pet. Jake needs his new family to be 100% committed to getting to know him with regular visits to the centre before he’ll be ready to go home.
PURDY
German Shepherd Cross Purdy has been at Dogs Trust Leeds for over a year. She is a beautiful girl who loves human attention. She enjoys playing off-lead so a fully secure, private garden is a must. Due to her size and exuberance, she won’t suit very young children, but confident teens should be fine. She doesn’t want to share her home with any other pets and will need to live in a calm, peaceful environment where she can develop a good routine. After a good settling in period, she should be fine to be left for short periods on her own, if done gradually. She is currently on medication which the team can discuss this in more detail.
Purdy is a firm favourite with all her handlers and is bursting with potential. She’s a fun and active girl who really enjoys her walkies. She has a natural chase instinct and happily wears her muzzle when out and about. She is lots of fun and loves to play tug on her rope toys with her friends. One thing’s for sure, Purdy will shower you in love and affection as she enjoys nothing more than a good snuggle!
ROSCO
Just one look at Rosco’s handsome face and you’ll be smitten! The eight-year-old Bulldog can be a little shy initially but once he knows you, he is very affectionate and loves to play with toys. He is super clever and likes to show off his repertoire of tricks! He can be a little vocal when settling into a new home so needs patient adopters to help support him through the transition. Once settled he is fine to be left on his own for a few hours. He is housetrained and travels well in the car. He enjoys meeting doggy friends out and about, but he doesn’t want to live with another dog as he likes all the human snuggles for himself. Rosco is currently staying in a foster home where he’s proving to be a brilliant companion.
As an older boy, Rosco needs ongoing pain medication and skin allergy medication – which his new owner will need to factor into his regular costs (Dogs Trust is able to support for some of this and will be discussed with applicants in more detail). Rosco doesn’t like stairs so he needs either a single-storey home or a house where he can access everything he needs on one floor. He’d like a home where any children are over 14 who can give him some quiet time.
ARCHIE
Seven-year-old Border Collie Archie was handed over by his owner in January 2021 and has been looking for a forever home for two years.
Archie is a very clever Collie who loves to learn. He is noise sensitive so needs to live with adults in a calm household in a peaceful location away from traffic. He doesn’t enjoy unknown people visiting his home, so a home with very few visitors, and none at all during his settling in period is vital. But once he has gained confidence and trusts you, he enjoys interaction with people and can be very affectionate. He’ll need his own secure garden to play in – his favourite thing ever is toys! He’ll need somebody around all the time to settle him in but in time should be okay to be left for a few hours if built up slowly. Very importantly you’ll need to be active and prepared to continue his training at home. Collies need a lot of physical and mental stimulation, and his handlers will help and advise you every step of the way. He does have arthritis in his elbows which requires long-term medication so potential adopters must consider the ongoing cost of this.
He’s housetrained and enjoys his walks. Sadly, he doesn’t travel well in the car so will need easy access to walking areas from his home. He likes having doggy friends and will happily make friends out and about, but he doesn’t want to share his home with any other pets. Archie will need patience to slowly transition him to a home life. He’ll need multiple visits to slowly build a relationship but more effort you put into him the more you will get from him and in the right home he will thrive.
