A dog who was in RSPCA care for almost two years finally found his home in Manningtree – just in time for Christmas, and has started the New Year with his new family. Lurcher, Walter, came into the care of the RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home , in Essex, in November 2022 when he was just a puppy, as part of a welfare investigation. It would end up being a long stay – 776 days long, in fact.
Ryan Lynch, from Danaher, said: “Walter’s journey was a long one. As he was part of an ongoing investigation, he couldn’t be rehomed for some time. Once he could, he had lots of meet-and-greets but finding him the right match proved tricky and no one seemed to want him. Walter was such a joy to be around but we had lots of lurchers in our care at the time and I think he just went under the radar and was getting missed by potential adopters.”
Walter spent much of 2024 in a fabulous foster home where he learned how to live in a home and spent time with another resident dog, all helping to prepare him for a fresh start.
READ MORE:Colchester Zoo says farewell to two chimpanzees ahead of brand new arrivalREAD MORE:The Essex town Nigel Farage says is ‘depressed’ and how he plans to change it
Ryan added: “We all loved him dearly and hoped that every inquiry we received would be ‘the one’ for him. Then, finally, just before Christmas, it happened, and he found his perfect home.” Walter was adopted by Kelsey Jones and her partner, Paddy, and they picked him up to begin his new life on December 21 – just in time for Christmas in a new loving home.
Kelsey, from Manningtree, said: “I grew up with a rescue lurcher from Danaher so when my partner and I decided we were ready for a dog it was the first place we went to look. We saw Walter’s profile on the website and instantly fell in love with his pictures and videos. We went to meet him and knew right away that he was perfect for us. We were besotted.
(Image: RSPCA)
“Paddy is really tall so they suited each other perfectly with their long legs! We had to have higher fencing put around our back garden so we got that sorted and then we were Walter-ready. He has only been here a short time but he’s made us so happy already; he’s got such a cheeky personality.
“We had a quiet but magical Christmas with him and it was lovely to see him enjoying home comforts at last. We’ve taken him for his first trip to the beach and he has really started enjoying going in the car.”
Walter arrived at the RSPCA with his sister, Marie, who went to another centre to find her forever home, and was also recently adopted. To support the charity to help more animals like Walter join the RSPCA’s winter rescue by donating online at rspca.org.uk/winterappeal .