30 APRIL 2018
Staff at Battersea Brands Hatch are appealing for a home for their unluckiest resident as the charity urges people to adopt rescue animals instead of turning to the internet for a new pet.
Battersea has seen the number of people adopting rescue dogs decline as it struggles to compete with pets for sale on online marketplaces and social media, with Brands Hatch rehoming 13% fewer dogs in 2017 than 2016 – and none know this better than four-year-old Greyhound Serena.
Serena, who has been looking for a home for longer than any of Battersea’s other dogs, has been at Battersea Brands Hatch for 260 days and counting. The average stay for any dog at the Kent centre is just 52 days.
Anna Hemmings, Centre Manager at Battersea Brands Hatch, said: “Serena is a wonderful dog and will make someone very happy. A typical Greyhound, she has short bursts of energy where she wants to zoom around but then is very happy to relax on the sofa for the rest of the day.
“Serena would be the ideal first pet for anyone thinking about rehoming a dog, but it’s very difficult as a charity trying to compete with the mass online sales of dogs and other pets. Animals like Serena are paying the price for people buying dogs online instead of giving a rescue animal a second chance.”
One of the benefits of rehoming from a rescue centre like Battersea is that expert behaviour and veterinary staff know everything there is to know about each dog so that they can give their new owner a full and detailed picture of what the dog is like.
Anna continued: “Here at Battersea Brands Hatch, we match you with the perfect dog so you know you’re going home with the right fit for your family and lifestyle. Serena enjoys the simple things in life – a bed and a friend. We’re hoping her luck comes in soon.”
If you are interested in rehoming Serena, or any other dogs and cats waiting for a home, please visit www.battersea.org.uk