A 15-YEAR-OLD Jack Russell, whose owner could no longer care for him, has been given a second chance at life thanks to a Stourbridge man with a passion for re-homing older dogs.
Libby arrived at the Blue Cross Bromsgrove rehoming centre, having lived her entire life with her owner who could no longer keep her.
But thanks to Stourbridge dog lover Alan Williams, he has been given a loving new home to live out his days.
Mr Williams, who has a history of caring for older dogs, described the move as a mutual blessing.
He said: “It’s an honor and a privilege to look after older dogs, even in 18 months to two years, you’ll probably be saying goodbye. I like to think that, underneath it all, Libby is grateful to be in a home. I reciprocated by thanking her for agreeing to live with us, without fuss. It’s a twofold thing.”
Data from animal organizations shows that there has been an increasing number of people opting to rehome a pet rather than buying a new pet in recent years.
More than 3,600 animals were rehomed by animal charity Blue Cross last year, and the charity has seen a massive 122 percent increase in dog adoptions since 2021.
Aly Jones, director of Rehoming at Blue Cross, said: “We are delighted to see so many people thinking about how they can help an animal and choosing to save the opportunity of a new home rather than choosing to buy a new pet. This is a trend that has been growing over the past few years and it means that more animals than ever are finding a forever home that is right for them.
Additionally, pet care company Pets at Home has seen an increase in its VIP Club signups from rescue pet owners.
In the opening three weeks of the new year, more than 12,000 rescue pet owners have joined, representing 1 in 10 of all newly registered animals.
Kathryn Imrie, chief consumer officer of Pets at Home, said: “It’s great to see so many new pet owners opening their homes to an animal in need and as more and more people bring a pet into their lives in this way, it reinforces how we truly are a nation of pet lovers.”
