Three-year wait ends for 'gentle giant' rescue dog

An "adorable" dog whose previous owner failed to get him treated for hunting injuries finally has his own home after spending nearly three years in kennels.

Six-year-old Alvin was rescued by the RSPCA in May 2022 but was overlooked by potential adopters for so long that he was moved from Cheshire to Lancashire to boost his chances of finding a forever home.

The animal charity said Alvin, a tan-and-white lurcher cross, was one of its longest-staying dogs.

Within two months of moving to the RSPCA's Preston rehoming centre, Alvin was spotted by Alan Eastham, who was looking for a new dog. Happily, the "gentle giant" ticked all the right boxes.

Alvin was nursed back to health by the team at the RSPCA's Warrington, Halton & St Helens branch after being rescued from a house in the West Midlands.

Legally he could not be put up for adoption until February 2024 when his former owner, who was disqualified from keeping animals, finally agreed to sign him over for rehoming.

Alvin became a firm favourite with staff in Warrington, who described him as an "adorable couch potato".

Despite several appeals, however, he had little interest from prospective new owners.

In December 2024, Alvin was taken to the RSPCA's Preston branch rehoming centre.

Alan, who lives in the Preston area, spotted Alvin on the RSPCA website two months later.

"We lost our border terrier just after Christmas and we were going to wait to get another dog but my stepdaughter said she missed having one.

"I spotted Alvin, who was described by the RSPCA as a 'gentle giant'.

"I'd always fancied having a lurcher and he just seemed to tick all the right boxes."

He said Alvin had a lot to get used to when he first arrived home with him.

"We've done a lot of training to help him overcome some of his fears, mainly around other dogs, and now we've got to the stage where he'll walk past them on the other side of the road.

"As the months went on, his personality really started to shine through.

"I can open a wrapper in the kitchen and he'll be asleep somewhere else, hear it and be next to me before I know it!"

Alan said Alvin, who loves his trips to a dog friendly cafe on Sundays, has three short walks a day, followed by long sleeps.

"He's definitely a couch potato," said his new owner.

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