Pet expert Pam St Clement is back with some more unwanted animals who desperately need your help to find a home.
Charlie the humping dog
Charlie the 3-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, arrived at Battersea after being dumped at Battersea's gates in October 2010. Battersea managed to trace his owner, but she said she'd given him away, and no longer wanted him - he has been at Battersea for 551 days today. Most Staffies take just 63 days to find a home, but Charlie has now been waiting longer than any other dog. Charlie is finding it hard to get a home for several reasons. Firstly, as he loves being with people he didn't enjoy life in kennels and became very stressed. He began humping people and barking, which put off potential owners. Being a brindle Staffie is also a challenge, as it is the most common Staffie colour in Battersea's kennels, making it harder for them to stand out from the crowd. Because he doesn't like kennels, Charlie has been put in a foster home, and is being cared for by Hollie Oppe, who lives in Putney. He is a completely different dog at home, and is very calm, relaxed, and well behaved. He no longer humps or barks unnecessarily, and is a joy to live with. He travels well in a car, and loves learning new things. However being in a foster home means he doesn't meet as many potential owners, and because he doesn't enjoy returning to Battersea, he is finding it hard to get a permanent home. Charlie would be content living in any location and is looking for an owner with some experience of dogs. He may be able to live with teenage children, and may be able to live with another dog, but isn't a fan of cats.
www.battersea.org.uk
Dean the lonely ex-racer greyhound
Dean is a 4 year-old ex-racing Greyhound who previously ran in Essex. He was handed into Dogs Trust Harefield by a group that rescues retired Greyhounds. He is now looking for a new place to call home that can offer him a cosy place to stretch his long legs. Dean came in with another Greyhound called Torvil who has just been booked to go to a new home, so he's very lonely. At its highest point, Dean was one of 19 Greyhounds and Lurchers at the rehoming centre - they are often overlooked because of the misconceptions about the breed - people believe that they require a lot of exercise when in fact they don't, one to two short walks a day is sufficient for them. He can happily live with first-time dog owners, families with children over eight, retired people - any family as long as there are no small furries as he hasn't lost his chase instinct!
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Snowball and Pixie the grumpy old Persian cats
Snowball & Pixie (boys) have come from a home where there were 6 persian cats in total - the 2 boys, and 4 girls Sherry, Lucy, Champy and Katie. They are very old, around 10-12 years-old and very, very grumpy. They also have a minor skin condition and a problem with their teeth - but we have had a promise from someone in the RSPCA that if they can be re-homed they will pay for their dental treatment! They have a very sad back story - the elderly gentleman who owned them has signed them over after falling down the stairs and having to go into a home. For days after he was hospitalised the neighbours and the RSPCA rallied round to feed and care for the cats at home until he could be contacted and the animals signed over. They are in pretty good shape for their age and with a bit of TLC would make lovely companions. We would consider rehoming them as pairs or individuals, but it would be good if Lucy and Katie could go together.
www.rspca.org.uk
Satin, Velvet, Chiffon and Linen the spiny mice
Wood Green, the animal charity in Cambridgeshire, currently has 9 spiny mice of which we have 4 with us today - they are just over 1 year old. Spiny mice are a fairly uncommon pet mainly due to the fact they are more for observing than handling which isn't a draw for many pet owners. These fascinating little creatures have been at Wood Green for a year now, although they are treated like royalty at the centre in their rodent room they would very much like a family to give them lots of love. As they are an exotic pet, special care is required.
www.woodgreen.org.uk
Boris, Horace and Morris - a family of pigs
The three little pigs were first with Wood Green Animal charity as piglets (they don't know the circumstances as it's before anyone's time). They were re-homed when they were around six months old. The owner had them for around 10 years, but then had to return them as he was moving abroad and obviously could not take them. They returned to the centre in Summer 2010, so have been here about 18 months now. They are brothers and 11 years old and need to be re-homed together. They are very food orientated and enjoy coming out to look for fruit and vegetables scattered around their enclosure and will also play with food put in a treat ball.
www.woodgreen.org.uk
TAZ the Dartmoor pony
Taz is an attractive 11-year-old 12hh Dartmoor cross pony. His main loves in life are eating and being groomed and pampered, so he will need an adopter who will keep an eye on his waistline as well as give him lots of attention! Taz is a happy, healthy pony who was broken to ride last year and has done some basic schooling but has only been used as a companion over the winter so will need an experienced home if he is to be brought back into work. He is well behaved with the vet and farrier, is good to catch and is used to travelling in a trailer. Taz is sociable with other ponies so will need at least one other horse or pony for company. At the moment Taz is in a foster home where he has proved to be a lovely pony to care for but he needs to be settled into a permanent home where his cheeky personality and handsome good looks will be an asset we are sure!
www.rspca.org.uk