International Dog Day: Nine dogs needing loving homes at Watford centre

This annual holiday on the pet calendar involves spoiling our beloved canine companions with affection but comes with a serious message too.

This day dedicated entirely to dogs focuses attention on the plight of animals around the world and encourages adoption. This is a subject close to the NAWT’s heart as the charity rescues and rehomes more than 400 animals a year.

The rescue centre currently has several dogs hoping to find their forever homes. You can see some of the pets up for adoption from the Watford site by scrolling down this page and you can see all the NAWT dogs available nationally at www.nawt.org.uk/rehoming/dogs

Watford centre manager Jackie de Friez says, “The National Animal Welfare Trust never puts a healthy animal to sleep. We’re incredibly proud of the work we do - so many animals under NAWT's care have had their lives changed for the better and it's all thanks to you.

"When you’re thinking of rehoming an animal or adopting an animal please think of us. When you go through a rehoming centre you are being responsible and sensible. When an animal comes into our care we are there for it as a support for the rest of its life. And that support isn’t just for the animal but for you too.

"Like most animal charities we get no government or council support. We exist only thanks to you.”

Could you give one of these dogs a loving home?

Penny the Patterdale

Penny is a sweet nine-year-old Patterdale who has just come into the Watford centre through no fault of her own.

Penny’s condition was really heartbreaking to see. She is malnourished and has infected eyes, ears, skin and very badly overgrown nails and will need a neuter and dental treatment.

Penny is a true survivor who, even after years of neglect, is still affectionate.

Her medical care will be expensive and the NAWT has launched a JustGiving appeal to enable her to get the proper care she needs and to give her a chance of finding a loving forever home.

Posey and Pepper

Hello, my name is Posey and I’m an eight-year-old Staffie. This is my best friend Pepper. He’s a six-year-old Shar Pei and together we make the perfect pair. We both enjoy going on walks and having a cuddle. I am definitely cuddlier than Pepper as sometimes he can get a bit distracted because there are so many lovely smells around for him to sniff. I will warm up to you very quickly as I love people. However, as much as Pepper loves people he can be a bit slower coming around to you, but once he does he won’t hold back.

We both get very excited when you show us our harnesses. I tend to express this by barking. I’m sorry but I just really like going on walks. Pepper is really good on the lead, he just likes to sniff everything. I can get a bit too excited and pull a little. I am trying to be better but I’m just not there yet.

Our perfect home would be with adults and teenagers only as we could be a bit too much for younger kids. We may be able to live with older children as long as they are sensible. We would like to be the only pets in the home, so we can have all the attention to ourselves.

Roxy

Hello, my name is Roxy and I’m a beautiful ten-month-old Mastiff cross. I’m a very friendly girl who loves attention. I can sometimes get over excited because I am so happy to see you - I am still a bouncy pup after all.

I love my toys - my favourites are the squeaky ones and the soft teddies and I like to greet you with one of them in my mouth! I enjoy my food and currently eat my food out of Kongs and would benefit from being fed from interactive feeders.

The staff here are teaching me to keep my paws on the floor with reward-based training, which would need to be continued in my new home. I would also benefit from going to socialisation classes as I am a big girl who can be a bit much sometimes. But I am very clever and already know ‘sit’ and ‘paw’!

I don’t like being left on my own so I’d like to live with someone who’s around a lot of the time to keep me company and also continue my training. I am still growing so will need someone who has had big bouncy breeds previously.

I’m looking for a home with adults or even a family with children aged 14 or over who have had dogs before. I still need a little more socialisation around other dogs so I would prefer to be the only pet for now.

Buzz the greyhound

Hello there, my name is Buzz and I am a 4-year-old boy. I am a lovely greyhound, I like going on walks and having little runs in the paddock, I do love doing my zoomies! I also like my toys, I love chasing them around the paddocks! I would say my favourite thing would be chasing balls around.

I walk nicely on the lead and love being outside exploring things. I do like my food and I am currently eating my meals from interactive kongs. I am looking for a home with adults or families with children age 10 and over. I could live with another dog of a similar size to me as long as we get on well here at the centre but I would like a home without cats.

Barry the bull mastiff

Hello, my name is Barry and I’m a very handsome six-year-old boy. I’m a typical Bull Mastiff cross, so it would be brilliant if I could live with someone who has experience with big boys like me. As you can imagine I’m very strong so I need someone who will be able to handle me.

I’m a massive softy when it comes to my humans - I just love cuddles, head scratches and have no issue taking up the whole sofa! But, I can be nervous of strange people and dogs, so I will need somebody who can manage my behaviour and is happy to continue my training and socialisation. A home without lots of visitors or other animals would be best.

Because of my size and boisterous nature, I would be best suited to a home with adults or families with children aged 16 and over.

Moose

Hello, my name is Moose and I am a gorgeous 12-month-old, Frenchie cross.

I’ve had a pretty difficult start to life and could really do with an understanding owner who would take the time to get to know me and help me learn how to be a well-behaved boy. It takes me a little while to feel safe with you but once we are friends, I am a big bundle of fun and energy.

I do need an experienced owner who is committed to helping me with my insecurities. I get worried meeting new people so the team have taught me how to wear a muzzle so I can have introductions and build my confidence with new humans safely.

I am a bit worried about the outside world, it’s a lot to take in! Loud noises and things like traffic do make nervous, so I think I would thrive in a quiet area where I can gain the confidence to take on the things that scare me.

I don’t like being on my own so I am looking for a home where somebody is in most of the day to keep me company. Due to my anxious nature I will need to live in an adult-only home.

Ernie

Hello there, my name is Ernie and I am a lovely two-year-old boy. I like going on walks with my fellow greyhounds and my favourite friend at the centre is Tessie! I enjoy having a little run in the paddock - I do love doing my zoomies! I also like my squeaky toys and love chasing them around the paddocks.

I can be a bit nervous to meet new people to begin with but once I get to know you, I can be very affectionate. I walk nicely on the lead and love being outside exploring things at my own pace. I’m very polite but I still have a few bits to learn and I can still be a little bit wary of new things so I need an owner who is home most of that day and will be patient while I learn.

I am looking for a home with adults or families with children aged 12 and over. I could live with another dog of a similar size to me as long as we get on well here at the centre but I would like a home without cats. I can be scared of loud traffic so if I can live near a quiet road that would be great.

Tessie

Hi! My name is Tessie and I am a sweet, sensitive four-year-old girl. I can be a little nervous to meet new people to begin with but once I get to know you I am very affectionate and enjoy a cuddle!

I love being out and about and playing with my toys. My favourites are soft toys and you may see that I have an orange monkey in my kennel that is my favourite - I love it! I do love a good brush as well but sometimes I think the brush is a toy. I walk nicely on the lead too and I’m very polite but I still have a few bits to learn.

I can still be a little bit wary of new things so I need an owner who is home most of the day and will be patient while I learn that the world isn’t such a scary place.

I am looking for a home with adults or families with children aged 12 and over. I could live with another dog of a similar size to me as long as we get on well here at the centre but I would like a home without cats.

Any dog adopted from the National Animal Welfare Trust has been medically checked by a vet; vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and neutered; given an individual training plan and four free weeks of Petplan insurance. To arrange a meeting, call on 0208 950 0177 (option 2) or email reception@nawt.org.uk