Lurcher-cross Zeus is a 'lovely boy' but he is still looking for a forever home after 150 days
Zeus is one of 118 pets who have been in an RSCPA rehoming centre for more than 100 days.
by Sam Volpe · ChronicleLiveZeus the lurcher cross-breed has been waiting for a home for more than 150 days.
Currently being looked after at the RSCPA Felledge Animal Centre, he is one of 118 pets who have been waiting under the care of the animal charity for more than 100 days to be re-homed. His search for a "forever home" continues - with staff at Felledge urging would-be owners to take a chance on a "lovely boy with lots of love to give".
The RSPCA is running its annual Adoptober October rehoming drive and drawing attention to how pets are spending longer than ever waiting to be adopted across the country. Data revealed by the charity today highlights that the average length of time dogs, cats and rabbits are having to wait before someone adopts them has risen by almost one third (31%) over the past five years (from 31.7 days in 2019 to 41.4 days in 2023).
Speaking about Zeus, Luka, an RSCPA reception supervisor at the Felledge centre in County Durham, said: "Zeus is a lovely boy with lots of love to give. He picked up training very quickly and his favourite game is fetch. He loves spending time in our secure paddock area having the most hilarious zoomies! Zeus is such a clever boy who is always willing to learn and eager to please."
The charity said many of its rehoming centres were "bursting at the seams" and unable to take on new animals. It added this meant that many pets which could be a much-loved part of a family were instead stuck in costly boarding centres, waiting for space.
The RSPCA's Karen Colman, who leads the team which looks to re-home rescued animals, said: "We are appealing to potential adopters to - where possible - consider rehoming pets which have spent a particularly long time waiting for their forever home at our centres.
“We have so many absolutely wonderful dogs, cats and rabbits who through absolutely no fault of their own are sitting at rescue centres waiting patiently for the next chapter of their lives to begin. That chapter cannot start without the public coming forward to offer them homes.
“As well as the lucky animals who tend to fly out of our centres into new homes, there are others who have more specific rehoming requirements because of the environments and conditions they were subjected to before being rescued. Very sadly, these are the animals we find most challenging to find new homes for."
To support these potentially complicated cases, Karen said it was essential that people with "higher levels of pet-owning experience" came forward. She said the situation was now at "crisis-point".
She added: "Spaces at our rehoming centres are like gold dust. The longer rescue animals remain un-adopted, the longer others have to wait for a space at our rehoming centres.
"There’s a log-jam that prevents another newly rescued animal from getting a rehoming place. We currently have hundreds of animals in our care forced to wait in temporary and emergency boarding accommodation because pets already at our rehoming centres are not being adopted fast enough."
The RSPCA reiterated its "clear policy" that healthy, re-homeable animals would not be euthanised - and that this would only ever happen to animals in suffering and on the advice of a vet..
Potential adopters can visit the RSPCA’s Find A Pet webpage to see all of the animals currently in the charity’s care who are looking for their perfect match. Supporters can also help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming by donating online or calling their donation line on 0300 123 8181.
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