Puppy found abandoned by previous owner is loving life in new home

A puppy who was abandoned by his previous owner is now loving life after the RSPCA found him a new and loving home.

Milo, a black and tan Rottweiler, (pictured above) was rehomed by RSPCA Suffolk Central in Martlesham, after he was found alone in a property during the summer and taken into their care while he was still a youngster.

Milo’s new owner said he is a joy to have and is encouraging others to welcome a larger dog into their home after RSPCA data reveals that it can take up to seven times longer for some larger dog breeds to find a new home compared to smaller dogs.

The findings have been released as the RSPCA promotes  the benefits of rescue pets, highlights the many animals that are waiting to find their perfect “forever” match and dispels myths about rescue pet rehoming.

Milo’s new owner, who doesn’t want to be named, told how she and her partner adopted him after seeing an appeal to find him a new home on a local news website.

She said: “I always had Rotties growing up and my partner saw he wanted a home and at first I thought my dad might like him – but then we decided we would like him.

“We have had him for two months and he is still a bit of a puppy who loves cuddles. He is such a big softie and settled in straight away when we brought him home at the beginning of September.

“He is a big dog with lots of love to give and we had a number of one-on- one meetings with him at the branch to help him bond with us and it worked so well.

“I always remember him looking sad when we left him – it was heart-breaking but we knew that he was the one.

“He does still like to follow us around and doesn’t like us going out of his sight but he has got so much better. He enjoys his walks and is a great dog.

“I would encourage people to think about adopting from a rescue like the RSPCA and help dogs in need – and don’t overlook a dog just because of its size.

“We are so glad we have Milo in our life – he is lovely, fun and so affectionate.”

The centre currently has a larger dog called Obie (pictured) who is desperately looking for a new home like Milo where he can also enjoy a new chapter in his life.

The-two year-old Cane Corso was found abandoned in a local park, too weak to stand and he had many scars on his body.

Donna Rich, the centre manager said: “Despite his heart-breaking start to life, he is such a sweet boy who loves spending time with his favourite humans and playing with all of his toys.

“He loves splashing around in his paddling pool in the warmer weather, and makes everyone smile with how playful he is.

“Due to his size he will need experienced owners and used to large breeds.

“Owners must be willing to continue his training in his new home with the support of our dedicated team.

“He is such a loving dog, he just needs a little extra guidance when transitioning to a new home.

“He will be the most rewarding rescue for his new family and shower you with so much love and affection – can you open your home to a large goofy dog in need?”

For more information about Obie contact the Suffolk Central Branch of the RSPCA or apply on their website profile pages.

The RSPCA is issuing an urgent request to other potential adopters to consider harder to rehome and large breed dogs.

RSPCA pet behaviour expert Dr Sam Gaines said: “We urgently need homes for big dogs, who can wait seven times longer than smaller dogs to find their forever home.

“We are in an unprecedented rehoming crisis as several large-scale cruelty and neglect cases have led to record numbers of dogs and cats in our care and are at risk of running out of space.

“We desperately need adopters now more than ever, so we can continue to rescue and care for the animals who need us.

“It’s the perfect storm with dogs rescued from cruelty and neglect needing longer to recover and needing more specialist homes, and at the same time, rehoming has slowed right across the welfare sector.”

Dr Gaines added: “Our unique and special dogs may not be the right pet for everyone.

“Some need some extra help to help them recover from their past, some are misunderstood because of the way they look, some need quiet homes with no other pets, and others need owners who can keep up with their boundless zest for life.

“But we know the right people are out there and urgently need to hear from them.

“Gentle giants, big softies and larger than life characters; we’ve got every kind of big dog, each one is unique, special and deserves a second chance of happiness.”

​Getting a pet brings a lot of joy, but before committing, it’s important to understand the costs.

The RSPCA pet cost calculator can help you prepare. It’s also important to consider pet insuranceto protect against unexpected costs.