Give a dog a home

Everyone wants pups, so these adorable oldies need adopting this Christmas ...

WITH their soulful eyes and shiny coats, you’d think these rescue dogs would be just one wag of a tail away from finding their forever homes. But these cute pooches have been passed over time and time again.

Why? Because they’re all ‘oldies’. RSPCA figures show that while puppies stay in UK sanctuaries for barely a fortnight, those over seven years old can languish for many months.

It’s heart-breaking both for the dogs, and those who look after them. Olive Armstrong, regional co- ordinator of The Oldies Club, a specialist website set up to re-home Britain’s elderly dogs, says: ‘We may have less time with them, but they tend to be house-trained, easier to deal with and you know their character — if they’re good with children or other dogs.’

Thinking you’ll end up spending a fortune on vet bills is also wrong, says RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines.

‘There’s often an assumption that older dogs will will have health problems,’ she says. ‘But that isn’t always the case. Every dog is an individual.’

The Daily Mail urges you to consider opening your home to an older pet. Here are just a few of the adorable oldies desperately in need of a cosy sofa and some love and affection this festive season.

But just remember, like puppies, an older dog, too, is for life — and not just for Christmas.