London’s Loneliest ᴅᴏɢ’ Still Searching For Home After 500 Days In Shelter
Two-year-old cocker spaniel Hattie was brought to RSPCA’s Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar after he owners sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀʟ with aspects of her behaviour.
Since arriving in August 2020, she’s now the resident who’s spent the longest at the ʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇ centre, which staff believe is due to her high energy levels. Cathie Ward, an Animal Care Assistant at Southridge, told MyLondon: ‘She’s an absolutely beautiful girl, and unfortunately we have sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇᴅ to find her a home because of her additional needs.’
As a working ᴅᴏɢ, Hattie needs a lot of ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ sᴛɪᴍᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴇʀᴄɪsᴇ , and her new owner would ideally have experience with similar ʙʀᴇᴇᴅs and lead an active lifestyle.
‘She does get Fʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ easily – she’s very active, She does like being around people, but it takes her some time to actually get to know you. You can’t do too much too soon with her. It’s just finding that experienced home with someone who’s willing to actually work with her.’’ added Cathie.
It’s hoped that Hattie’s forever home will have a secure garden and be in a rural or semi-rural location so she can safely run around. If you can offer her a place to swim, even better. She also cannot live with other pets or children, and should be taken to training classes to continue the behavioural work that she’s already done. Although it may seem like a lot to ask, putting in the effort with Hattie will pay off for the right person.
Cathie continued: ‘Once she knows people, she does calm down a lot – she’s lovely and very cuddly, but it does take a while for her to get to that stage and to trust you.’
After 18 months of ʀᴇᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, could you be the one to inspire that trust in Hattie?
