Algarve mongrel Ben seeking forever home
A COLLIE-CROSS, abandoned in Portugal, is now looking to start a new life in Hinckley.
Ben, a five-year-old mongrel, was left homeless after his previous owners died within a short time of one another.
Rescue organisation Algarve Dog Rehoming took him in and now, group supporter, Dan Stokes from Hinckley is fostering while a more permanent position is found.
Dan lived on the Algarve for a time and was touched by the work of the rehoming volunteers, mainly ex-pat animal lovers.
He took on one dog Alfie during his time overseas, returning with him to the UK last year and has since rehomed a black Labrador called Sooty as well as fostering two more dogs before new owners were found.
Dan said: “Ben is a collie-cross-ridgeback, his owners passed away a few weeks back within a short space of time and he was left alone. I saw him advertised on the group’s Facebook page and I said I would foster him while he waits for a forever home.
“He is a very loving dog, he gets on with my two, he is neutered and chipped and vaccinated. He has all of his paperwork, he likes children, other dogs and knows commands. He is good with recall off the lead and is very attentive, his small drawback is he doesn’t like being alone.
“He scratches my door to bits when I go out - I think he is scared of losing someone again. In an ideal world he would want a retired couple or individual or someone with a lot of time at home and he definitely needs a garden. I think with time the separation would go away.”
Ben is just one of hundreds of unwanted canines saved by Algarve Dog Rehoming since its launch three years ago.
According to Dan the Algarve has a huge problem with stray dogs, largely because migrant workers take on a pet while doing summer jobs, then simply abandon them when they leave after the season ends.
With no government funding for neutering, official kennels (canils) are full to bursting with around 1,000 dogs put down each week.
Dan said: “Our members do all they can but unfortunately it is relentless, there are bags of puppies and stray dogs found every single day.”
For more information on Ben or the rehoming group itself message them through the Facebook page. anxiety