Hattie, dubbed ‘London’s loneliest dog’
(Picture: RSPCA)A north London animal centre has been inundated with offers by pet lovers wanting to rehome “London’s loneliest dog”.
Two-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Hattie, was dubbed the capital’s loneliest hound after spending more than 500 days at the Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar, the RSPCA’s closest rescue centre to London.
The young pooch first arrived at the centre in August 2020 after her previous owner became unable to care for her.
Although she has been adopted before from the centre, so did not spend the full 18 months in the centre, it did not work out, and Hattie had to return to the home.
On Friday, an RSPCA spokesperson told the Standard that Hattie was no longer featured on the site as being available for rehoming, as the centre had been “inundated” with offers to adopt the lovable dog.
The search is challenging, as Hattie has extra needs which requires an experienced owner who can be home most of the day and who lives in an area with large amounts of green space without children or other pets.
An advertisement for Hattie stated: “This has been an unsettling period in Hattie’s life and it has taken some time for us to gain her trust.
“She will need a calm owner who understands that Hattie does not like too much handling and at times can be unpredictable, especially in the beginning stages whilst she is learning to trust.
“Once she knows you she does enjoy a cuddle and can be affectionate, but she has to trust you first and this can take some time”.
Cathie Ward, an Animal Care Assistant who has worked at the centre for four years, told MyLondon: “It’s just finding that experienced home with someone who’s willing to actually work with her.
“With the breed that she is, she's got a high drive and she's constantly on the go. So she needs that stimulation and enrichment in the home to help her.”
However, the applications will now need to be sifted through to ensure the potential new owner can actually meet Hattie’s needs.
Among her specific needs were a rural or semi rural area with lots of green space, which is only within an hour travelling time of the centre, and is an adult-only and no other pets home.
She also required a private large garden with minimum 5ft fences, someone who is at home most of the day and willing to go to training classes, and who was also willing to visit Southridge Animal Centre a number of times to develop a relationship before adoption.
The Standard has contacted the RSPCA for comment on whether Hattie has now found a suitable new owner for her forever home.
