SCOOBY, Frankie and Oliver are three dogs with three things in common.
They are all Staffordshire bull terriers, they are all homeless and together they are Scotland’s least-loved dogs.
The Scottish SPCA has been caring for the boys for a total of 31 months, with Scooby the longest resident of all the animals in the charity’s care, clocking up 15 months in kennels to date.
Scooby has been in kennels for 15 months
The dogs have become so desperately sad that Scotland’s animal welfare charity has now launched a nationwide hunt to find all three dogs loving, permanent, homes.
Currently being cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, staff there can’t understand why nobody has been willing to offer any of the dogs the chance to enjoy the comfort and security of family life.
Assistant Manager Debbie Innes said, “It’s truly heartbreaking to see these genuinely affectionate and loving dogs being passed over day after day and the three of them are slowly slipping further and further into depression.
“Poor Scooby has all but given up on life and you can just see the light in his eyes fading as he returns to his lonely kennel at the end of another day without any interest.
Oliver has been looking for a home for six months
“Meanwhile Frankie is just one of the sweetest dogs you could ever hope to meet. If it wasn’t for his breed and his brindle coat we could have rehomed him a hundred times over in the past ten months he’s been with the Society.
“But the sad reality is that looks matter and the cute fluffy breeds always get picked over the brindle staffie types every time.
“Oliver is a gorgeous little guy, but he’s a bouncy ball of energy who needs an owner who will give him loads of exercise and attention.
Instead he’s spent the past six months languishing in kennels and it’s so sad to see him losing his enthusiasm for life.”
Frankie’s brindle coat has made him difficult to rehome
The Scottish SPCA is striving to dispel the myth that staffies are inherently dangerous or aggressive and instead want to highlight the fact that many make extremely loyal and loving pets.
Debbie continued, “Scooby, Frankie and Oliver are all huge people-pleasers and they are literally begging to be given a chance to prove what fantastic family members they could make.
“The love these guys have got to offer their prospective new owners is unconditional and without limits. We can see what great dogs they are, but we need people to come along and meet them so they can see for themselves.”
Anyone who would like to meet Scooby, Frankie or Oliver can call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999 and ask to be connected to the Aberdeenshire Centre. Alternatively you can visit the Centre between 10am and 4pm seven days a week at Drumoak, Banchory, AB31 5AJ.
Frankie is a six year old male Staffordshire bull terrier with a heart of solid gold. He has been vet checked, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and he has been patiently waiting for a loving home for the past 294 days.
Frankie gazes out of his kennels bars and looks up at the sky as if he’s praying for someone to come and take him home. You can’t help but think Frankie is asking himself what he’s done wrong but he never complains and will gratefully accept every belly rub on offer.
Scooby is around two to three years old and he’s a neutered male Staffordshire bull terrier with a bubbly personality. He’s spent more than half of his life in kennels, a desperately sad way for a young, cheeky, dog to live, and he’s now becoming resigned to living a life of solitude. Scooby will happily play away with his toys on his own, but he becomes ecstatic with joy when anyone shows him any attention. Scooby has been neutered and microchipped and he’s up to date with his vaccinations.
Oliver is a six year old Staffordshire bull terrier who, after six months without interest, has started to believe he will never have a family to love or a home to call his own. Normally full of fun and frolics, Oliver is now slowly losing the twinkle in his eye, but with a loving owner and lots of play time he will be back in bouncy, happy, form in no time. Oliver is neutered, microchipped and fully vet checked.
If you can offer Frankie, Scooby or Oliver a home please call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
