Adorable foxhound Gabe, rescued by the RSPCA, has been searching for a new forever home for an astounding 684 days.
However, this Adoptober, the charity is optimistic that his long wait will finally come to a close.
Three year old Gabe is being looked after by the team at Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-Moor, County Durham, but after nearly two years in the charity’s care, handsome Gabe hasn’t found anyone who wants to adopt him.
His story is being showcased as part of Adoptober – celebrating the wonder of rescue pets, and highlighting the many animals the charity has waiting to find their perfect match this month.
Luka Atkinson, deputy centre manager at Felledge Animal Centre, said:
“Gabe has been in RSPCA care since 17 November 2021, but despite his happy friendly personality he still can’t find a new home.
“Gabe is a bigger dog and quite strong on the lead and we think that’s why he is struggling to find a home. But he is the friendliest, most loveable giant and he loves to play with other dogs. He’s a really happy chappy – you can see how soft he is just by looking at his face – we really want to see him find his forever home!”
Gabe was rescued as part of a group of hunting dogs that were involved in an RSPCA investigation. He has been working hard over the last two years with his RSPCA team and he would make a loving addition to a family home, ideally with other dogs and children aged over 16.
“We don’t want people to be put off by the fact he was rescued as part of a group of hunting dogs,” Luka continued. “Gabe is only three years old now and we’ve had him for nearly two years, so he was really still a puppy when we got him. He’s a real character – he is so friendly and happy and loves nothing more than to play with other dogs.”
Gabe is looking for calm, patient and knowledgeable adopters who can show him the outside world slowly at his own pace and understand he has lived a sheltered life previously.
Luka added:
“Gabe has been used to living as part of a pack in his previous life, so he is used to being with other dogs. He gets on so well with all the dogs at our centre so we feel Gabe would be happy to live with another large, calm but playful dog who can bounce around with him and introduce him to life in a home.
“Gabe has lived in a rural area away from the hustle and bustle of everyday sights and sounds so he is quite unfamiliar with the everyday things we’re all used to seeing. But he is not a nervous boy, and Gabe loves to learn and experience new things – he was filled with awe and excitement when he saw a TV for the first time! He just needs someone to take time to show him all these new things.
“He has grown in confidence so much since being in our care, we are so proud to see his happy personality shining through, he really is such a character. He can be strong on lead, but once his initial excitement calms down he walks very well.”
Sadly Gabe is just one of hundreds of animals sitting in RSPCA centres looking for new homes. Alongside the RSPCA facing its biggest rehoming crisis in recent memory, new figures* have shown that 72% of the UK population are not planning on getting a new pet.
The RSPCA rescue centres and branches are full to bursting with unwanted animals as more animals come into care than are being adopted. The number of animals rehomed dropped by five percent from 2021 to 2022 falling to 25,535 animals in 2022, compared to 26,945 during the previous year.
This marks a longer-term collapse in rehoming rates; which have fallen by 34% from three years ago (in 2019) – when 39,178 animals were rehomed.
To try and revive adoption rates, the RSPCA’s month-long Adoptober rehoming campaign launched this week (2 October).
Anyone who can offer Gabe his ideal home can complete an RSPCA Felledge Perfect Match Form and contact the centre on 0300 123 0708.
Visit the RSPCA’s Find A Pet to see all of the animals currently in the charity’s care who are looking for their paw-fect match.
If you can’t offer a rescue pet a new home perhaps you could help in a different way?
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Help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming by donating online or calling their donation line on 0300 123 8181;
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Sponsor a cat pod or a dog kennel and help take care of the animals during their stay with the charity;
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Support the work of your local centre or branch by becoming a volunteer or donating to them directly.
