A dog that has been in RSPCA Cymru's care the longest has finally found his forever home just in time for Christmas. Six-year-old crossbreed Charlie was adopted by his new owner after nearly two years in the charity's Newport Animal Centre leaving staff "over the moon".
The pooch was one of 45 dogs rescued by the RSPCA from a dilapidated barn in Ceredigion in January 2021. The owner allowed the RSPCA to intervene when the situation got out of control. Due to the sheer number of dogs, the owner had struggled to meet animals' basic needs - including a lack of shelter, parasite control and poor diet.
Charlie was so nervous after he was rescued that he didn't move from the corner of his kennel for nearly six weeks and it wasn't until May that year that he was confident enough to go outside. Hayley Moorey, the centre’s behaviour and welfare advisor who, along with other centre staff, spent many months rehabilitating Charlie, said: “Like the rest of the dogs in the barn, he’d experienced very little human contact; he’d never gone outside, worn a collar or been on a walk, so his transformation has been quite incredible."
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A year later, withdrawn Charlie was the only one from the group of rescued dogs that was still left in the care of Newport Animal Centre. But now his life has been turned around thanks to his new owner Bethan Davies, from Brecon.
She made numerous trips to the rehoming centre to build up a bond with the pup - including "days out" at her house so he could get used to his new surroundings. Three months on, Charlie is thriving in his new home, alongside his new canine companions, a collie called Lily and basset hound Del.
Hayley said: "Everyone here is incredibly grateful to Bethan for her patience and perseverance. Not many people would have travelled to an animal centre as many times as she did to get to know a dog, but she was committed to Charlie right from the beginning. She’s taken things very slowly and we are over the moon at how he’s settled in with his new family."
Bethan said: “I’m really proud of the progress Charlie’s made; he’s a different dog to the one that came home with us initially. There’s still a long way to go, but he’s a much more confident lad now. He’s made lots of doggy friends and is becoming happier and more at ease when meeting new people."
The RSPCA said it is highlighting Charlie's story as part of its Christmas appeal, which is calling on the public to donate to the charity so they continue to carry out rescues and help more neglected pets in need.
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