The heartbreaking ‘letters to Santa’ from Britain’s most unwanted dogs

Mike has been looking for a home for nine months. For the last few months, he has been going home with his favourite Canine Carer, Grace, on her days off and has proved himself to be the perfect house guest! He is a nine-year-old Labrador/Mastiff cross, who is a true gentle giant and is currently staying at Dogs Trust Salisbury. He is an extremely affectionate fella who thrives in the company of his humans and feels most content and relaxed, knowing you are close by. He would love a family who are around most of the day, building up the time left alone gradually. He is looking for a quiet, adult only home that has few visitors. He’d love his own space in his new home where he can retreat to when guests arrive as he can be wary of strangers. He’s particularly worried by men so he would prefer a female-only home. Mike would need to be the only dog in the home, but he’s happy to have walking buddies when out and about. Mike loves his toys and loves playing outside, so a good-size, secure garden will be required for him to explore and play safely off lead

Kelly, a four-year-old German Shepherd, who currently stays at Dogs Trust Shoreham, has been searching for a home for around two years. She struggles to be left alone so she’d love a family who are always around to keep her company. Kelly is very smart and enjoys her training, so owners will need to continue teaching her new things in her new home. She’d like to be the only pet, away from neighbouring dogs and a garden of her own is essential, so that she can have fun running around. She’s a fun girl to be around and once she knows and trusts you; she’ll be your perfect pal! Despite being an active girl, owners will need to be mindful that her exercise will need to be limited due to her hips

Eight-year-old Beagle, Lillie, is looking for owners that have plenty of Beagle experience! She’s a typical Beagle – loves to use her nose and be out exploring and she is super independent! She’d like a quiet but active family who loves to explore as much as she does. She’s a very clever girl and already knows lots of tricks but her new owners will need to be prepared to continue her ongoing training, particularly managing how she feels around food as she does have the tendency to not want to share this with anyone. Lillie could live with another established dog in the home. She currently lives at Dogs Trust Newbury

Four-year-old terrier Pugsley, who currently lives at at RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District branch, had a sheltered start to life and can be a little nervous. Believed to be a pug cross Jack Russell terrier, the four-year-old is always on the go and would like an active owner to take him on lots of adventures. He’d like a rural, adult-only home without too many visitors and will need a patient owner who he can slowly learn to love and trust

Eve and Dasher are a pair of two-year-old salukis at RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre, in Hertfordshire, who are hoping to find a home together! Eve is deaf and can be a little bit shy but loves to spend time with her best friend, Dasher. They’re active, excitable dogs who would like a home with a large garden. They like to chase so can’t be rehomed with any cats or small furry pets and would benefit from further training and socialisation. They’re busy, bright dogs who will need lots of mental stimulation and would like owners with experience with sighthounds

Two-year-old long-coat Chihuahua Brodie is a small pooch with a big personality currently being looked after by RSPCA Mount Noddy in West Sussex! He hasn’t had a great start and can find new people and other dogs frightening. But he’s very sweet and affectionate once he knows you. He’d like a quiet, adult-only home somewhere quiet with experienced owners. He is very clever, loves scent work and would benefit from more training

Three-year-old pals Bridget and Princess are a little and large duo who are looking for a home together. The little terrier and bull breed cross – who is double her size – were rescued by the charity’s inspectors in October and are now at RSPCA Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter, in Hampshire. Princess may be small but has a big personality and Bridget is a big goofball. They’d like a home without other pets but could live with older children

Two-year-old lurcher, Snowy, has been at RSPCA Danaher Animal Home, in Essex, for almost one year after arriving in December 2019 as a stray. Fun-loving Snowy loves to play and is very affectionate once he gets to know you. He has Addison’s disease – meaning his body can’t produce the adrenaline hormone – which will need to be managed for the rest of his life. He needs a quiet, calm home with patient owners who can teach him all the things in life that he hasn’t learned

Maxy is a big cuddly bear who loves to have fuss and would make an amazing companion. The eight-year-old crossbreed, who currently lives at RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, in Buckinghamshire, had a tough start and was kept on a yard for long periods of time. He may never have been in a home environment before so needs an experienced and patient owner who can slowly introduce him to everyday things

He’d like a rural home away from other dogs as he finds them difficult to be around. He’s showing early signs of arthritis so is on medication which will need to continue. Sadly he’s been waiting for a new home since December 2019

Five-year-old lurcher Eric has his paws crossed for a new home this Christmas. Eric spent last Christmas in the care of the Blue Cross after coming into the pet charity’s rehoming centre in Lewknor, Oxfordshire, in November 2019. He is a fun loving and playful lad with bags of character. He just has a few special requests of his new home but in return he’ll make someone a wonderful companion

As he gets worried by other dogs, Eric needs a home where he can be street walked nearby where he is unlikely to encounter dogs who are off lead. He needs to be the only pet in the home with an experienced owner who has trained dogs before

Ari is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Mastiff cross, and he is 1 year 9 months old. Ari came into Blue Cross care over 100 days ago and has been undergoing some training with the team to help him feel more comfortable around unfamiliar dogs and people. Being a very clever boy he has learnt a lot in this time, and is now ready to find his new home and is waiting for the perfect match at the charity’s rehoming centre in Tiverton, Devon. Ari is looking for a home that have experience of owning a large and nervous dog like he is. He would prefer to be the only pet in the home. Ari could live with older children that have been around bouncy dogs before. Ari loves to play, and always greets his human pals with a toy in his mouth (or 4, as his current record stands!). Ari is looking for a home in a quiet location, as he can find loud noises a little scary. Ari has so much love and companionship to offer his new owners and will have you laughing for days

Ziggy is a friendly chap who loves to be around people and will make a great companion in his new home. He loves nothing more than sitting beside you as you go about your day. He enjoys playing with his toys and will happily play by himself throwing the toy around and generally having fun. Ziggy, currently living in Southampton, needs a home without other pets as for a little dog he has a strong chase drive for other animals and is worried by other dogs. He will need an understanding new owner who will be happy to accommodate this and walk Ziggy on lead in quiet areas with no off lead dogs, this would ideally be quiet fields or private land as walking around the roads seeing dogs is tricky for him. He is not high energy so doesn’t need a lot of exercise – he would much rather be having a cuddle

Five year old Shih Tzu Elsa is a fun and happy girl who is looking for a very special home and is currently staying at Blue Cross Suffolk. She has a few medical issues with her legs which means she’s looking for a patient and supportive new owner. Elsa can be worried by new humans so is looking for a quiet home without too many people coming and going

She would prefer to be in a home with no children or other pets. She would make a wonderful companion for someone as she loves to be with her owner and has really enjoyed her time in her foster home but is now looking for her forever home

Handsome two-year-old Collie cross, Blaze, currently at Dogs Trust Evesham, has so much potential to flourish in the right home. He likes his treats, adores playtime with his favourite people and enjoys showing-off just how clever he is. Tennis balls are Blaze’s favourite thing in the world, so a plentiful supply paired with a large, secure garden would make Blaze very happy. He will require multiple meets to get to know his new family who will be supported by the centre’s training team pre- and post-adoption. Blaze will fit into an active family in a rural location with lots of space to explore safely at his own leisure. Blaze must have an adult-only home with no visiting children and he must be the only pet

Brodie is a sweet and friendly six-year-old Deerhound currently at Dogs Trust West Calder  cross who is looking for a quiet life and a comfy couch to call his own. Brodie needs experienced dog owners with a secure garden where he can spend some time off his lead to play with his toys or relax and watch the world go by. Brodie doesn’t like spending a lot of time on his own and requires a new family who can keep him company during the day. Brodie adores his walks and would love to live in a rural area where it is peaceful and there’s few other dogs around. He can be a little shy when meeting new people and is more comfortable and affectionate with men. Brodie needs an adult-only home where he is the only pet in the house

Five-year-old Bosco is a brilliant boy at Dogs trust Evesham who adores spending time with the people he knows. He’s a clever Collie and one of his favourite things is his training sessions. Bosco will require a hands-off approach to begin with, but will make a fantastic companion once settled. A rural home is top of Bosco’s wish list, where he can enjoy life without the worry of loud noises. Several visits will be required before Bosco heads home, and consideration should be made for his hip dysplasia which he is on long term medication for. Bosco is seeking an adult-only home with no visiting children. He would like to be the only pet in his home. Bosco is quite happy in his own company and can be left for a few hours if given a comfy bed and a brain game to keep him occupied

Five-year-old Lurcher, Arnie, has been looking for a home for a year and is currently staying at Dogs trust Harefield . He is a firm favourite amongst staff and is the friendliest boy with so much love to give, he just needs to be given the chance. This lovely Lurcher will happily show off his tricks in return for treats but is equally happy lazing around in his kennel for most of the day

Paxo is a lively three-year-old Lurcher, currently at Dogs trust Newbury, who doesn’t let the fact he only has three legs stop him living his best life! He loves his food and learning new things – he’s such a clever boy! He is looking for a calm home environment, in a rural area with understanding owners who can help him thrive and are happy to continue his training. Paxo can be unsure of people he doesn’t know, so will need to be introduced to his new owners slowly and will need minimal visitors to the house

Collie cross Rafa is 11 years old and, as an older boy, really deserves to find a retirement home to spend his twilight years. He has been at Dogs Trust Snetterton since November 2019 and will be spending his second Christmas at the centre. Rafa is a sweet, sensitive boy who loves treats, long walks and curling up in a comfy bed. He’s looking for a female-only home in a quiet area with a garden for him to potter in. He needs to be the only dog in the home but is happy to meet calm, friendly dogs out on walks

Beautiful three-year-old Border Collie Juno is a sweet shy boy who’d love a family that will take him on quiet walks and give him the love and attention he deserves. He is an active lad who loves the beach. Juno is looking for an adult home, but could live with teenagers 16 and above. He’d love his new family to visit several times at Dogs Trust Ballymena to get to know him before taking him home

Buster is a two-year-old Lurcher who arrived at Dogs trust Manchester in October 2020 when his owners could no longer care for him. He has a huge personality and bags of energy and loves nothing more than to run around and play with his toys. He’s a super smart boy who loves to learn and enjoys mental stimulation from his puzzle feeders. Buster for an active home with a family who can keep up with him and take him of plenty of long walks. He could live with teenagers aged 16 plus and would need to be the only dog in the home, but could have doggy walking pals who are accepting of his exuberant nature

Nine-year-old Akita, Tasha, is a friendly dog who just adores being around people. Despite her age, she is still a very playful girl that loves her toys and having lots of fuss and attention. If you want a guaranteed snuggle buddy, Tasha is it! Tasha is looking for an adult-only home without visiting children, where she can be the only pet. Her ideal new owners will have a secure garden so she can play off lead and she’ll also require access to quiet walks away from other dogs

Nessie is a four-year-old Lurcher who is waiting patiently at Dogs Trust Merseyside for her special someone to fall in love with her. When she first arrived at the rehoming centre, she was quite poorly but is now fully recovered and has come on in leaps and bounds in terms of her health, and her confidence. She loves to head out on walks, enjoys a gentle fuss and loves to cuddle up with her carers. Nessie will need her own garden to play in in her forever home and although she would like to be the only pet in the home, she can live with children aged 14 and over

Leo is a four-year-old Patterdale Terrier who has been with Dogs Trust Manchester for a couple of months after being handed in by his previous owners who could no longer care for him. Leo prefers the company of humans to other dogs and would love to live in a pet-free home with owners who are looking for a high-energy dog who loves an adventure! Leo would enjoy a quiet, with access to rural walking spots where he wouldn’t need to meet other dogs. He’d thrive with a family who can help him to help him build his confidence and work on his training. A large secure garden would be perfect for him so he can enjoy off-lead exercise and play until his heart’s content

This will be Teddy’s second Christmas at Dogs Trust Darlington. He is a seven-year old German Shepherd who is looking for a pet-free, adult-only home. He attracts lots of attention with his handsome looks but having new people approaching can be an uncomfortable situation for him

Three-year-old, Labrador cross Megan is a soppy girl full of character currently living at Dogs trust Evesham. She can be shy to start, but with a slow and steady approach she soon learns to trust new people (and asks for lots of fuss!). Megan will require several meets with her new family before heading home which would need to be in a quiet, rural location as she becomes very overwhelmed by the sight and sound of traffic and loud noises. Megan would thrive in an adult-only home with her very own garden to chill out and play in. She may be able to share her home with another confident dog

Three-year old Husky Malamute cross, Milo, has been in the care of Dogs Trust Glasgow since August 2020. This quirky boy is looking for an owner who has experience with similar breeds and can help introduce him gradually to the joys of living in a home. Initially, he’d like an outdoor run or kennel and will need a secure garden where he can keep up his training. His ideal family will have older children over the age of 16 and no other pets. The time spent on Milo and his training will be worth it as he will make a great addition to the right home

Four-year-old Siberian Husky, Storm, has been looking for a home since arriving at Dogs trust Basildon in September 2018 – more than 800 days. He’s active, playful, and independent and once Storm gets to know you, he is a friendly and loyal boy and loves toys and treats. Storm’s ideal home would be with owners who would play all day with him, in a quiet and preferably rural area, where he doesn’t see too many other dogs or strangers. His new owners will need to be prepared to be involved in his ongoing training – food is the way to his heart so once you bond with Storm, you’ll have a friend for life

Snow Cloud is a six-year-old Welsh Collie who has been looking for a home since January 2020. He is a cheeky lad with a playful personality and he is looking for a quiet, rural home away from the hustle and bustle of busy roads and noise. He needs an adult-only home with minimal visitors. He gets on well with other dogs and would love to live with another four-legged friend who can show him the ropes and help him settle into his new home. His new home should have a large secure garden so he enjoy off-lead play with his toys. He does have some ongoing issues with his legs so his home will need little or no steps for him to use. Snow Cloud is looking for patient owners who are prepared to work with the centre’s training team both prior to and post adoption and, for this reason, Snow Cloud is looking for a home within an hour’s drive of the rehoming centre at Dogs Trust Bridgend

Seven-year-old Crossbreed, Jaffa, who currently lives at Dogs Trust Loughborough, is a sweet, sensitive boy who loves cuddles and spending time with his two-legged human friends. Jaffa, who is seven, absolutely adores long walks in the countryside where he can explore to his heart’s content without being troubled by lots of other dogs, and he gets very excited if there’s the chance of a game of fetch. He absolutely loves his food, which is great for doing training with him as he is a clever boy and works hard for a tasty treat. He would like his new family to be around most of the time, especially whilst he settles in to his new home, and he would like an adult-only home where he is the only pet so he can lap up all the love. He would also like to live in a rural location