SINGLE TO BARKING New route for pooch left on a London bus
IT has been a long, stressful journey. But five months after hopping on a bus, a lost dog has made it home.
Chelsea, a tubby Staffie, was discovered by a passenger in May.
She was taken to Battersea, where staff puzzled over how she ended up alone on the bus.
Rehoming boss Rebecca Maciver said: “For this lovely girl to have been brought into Battersea after being stranded on a bus is really unfortunate, especially as she’s an older dog.”
Rebecca said Chelsea had “found kennels to be quite stressful”.
Battersea spokesman Sarah Copleston added: “But despite not having the easiest life so far, Chelsea is such a loving and happy dog, which has earned her a large fan club among the Battersea staff.”
Chelsea, thought to be ten years old and with a large, old, burn scar across her shoulder, was spotted padding around the seats on a Bromley Road bus in South East London.
It is not known if she was dumped, forgotten about or jumped on board the Lewisham-bound bus herself.
She was overweight, which is a common problem with stray dogs who have been scavenging for food or fed by well-meaning strangers.
So it could be Chelsea had been living on the streets for a while.
Cheeky
Battersea staff discovered she was mircochipped so hoped her owner had left her behind accidently. But they were unable to trace anyone.
One attempt at rehoming failed at the last minute.
But this week, Chelsea had some great news – she has found a forever home with a middle-aged couple. And she has landed on her feet at their pad near Richmond Park in South West London, which is perfect for long autumn walkies.
Sarah added: “While we will all miss having this cheeky girl around, we’re over the moon that her luck has finally changed and she now has a home to call her own with a loving family.”
Battersea has rehomed more than three million pets, with 7,000 finding families last year alone.
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