After almost five years in an RSPCA animal shelter, Britain’s loneliest dog has finally found a home. Albie, a stalker, was rescued by RSPCA inspectors just before Christmas 2017 as part of an investigation and remained in the charity’s care while the case was investigated.
Anna White, the manager, stated: “Unfortunately Albie was a victim of Covid and became available for rehoming just before the country went into lockdown which meant we had to close our doors to the public to comply with the regulations. restrictions.
“If someone came personally to get a dog, they would definitely fall in love with him because he is such a sweet boy when you meet him.
“But we had to rely on online advertising for our animals and unfortunately we found that he was constantly ignored and there were only a few questions about him.”
But the team refused to abandon him. Grace Ho, from west London, saw her online profile and decided to give it a try.
She said: “I had lost my dog in April and finally had the idea of volunteering or rehoming a dog, but I had imagined a small Staffie or spaniel, not a dog like Albie.
“But when I saw his profile and saw that no one was interested in him, my heart broke. I think most people perceive him as a scary dog because he is missing part of his nose and he has numerous scars, so they never gave him a chance.
“I approached the center and asked if I could meet him, take him for a walk and see how we got along. I spent about two months walking him and getting to know him, learning all about his quirks and his reactivity to other dogs, and feeling confident that he could handle that effectively.
“Albie is absolutely lovely. She has a kind soul with humans and she always smiles. “There is obviously a lot to do but I am confident I can handle it and he has already made some good progress.”
Albie moved in with Grace in September and is doing well. “She likes to eat, snuggle on the couch and go for walks,” Grace added.
Grace is not discouraged by the fact that she reacts to other dogs and wears a muzzle when she is out of the house.
She went on to say, “We walk in a quiet park near our house on weekdays and then go to busier parks on weekends, where I know we’ll have to encounter other dogs, and I’m working hard to desensitize him as much as possible. possible; He has already made friends with two greyhounds with whom he is happy to walk.
“He is a good boy at home. He doesn’t ask for much. He just wants a warm bed and a full stomach.
“When I’m working, he jumps on the couch next to me and sticks his head behind my back; “He just wants to be close to me.”
After such a difficult life and time in kennels, Anna and the rest of the Southridge team are thrilled that Albie has finally found his happy ending.
“It just goes to show that there is a home for every dog,” Anna added.
The RSPCA has launched its annual Adoptober rehoming campaign to raise awareness of rescued animals and encourage more people to consider adopting a rescue pet like Albie.
