AssetID: 54607493
Headline: RAW VIDEO: 'Britain's Most Unwanted Dog' Mia Finds A Home 5 Years After Rescue
Caption: A sweet Dutch Shepherd named Mia - who was dubbed ‘Britain’s most unwanted dog’ - has finally found her forever home, more than years after her rescue. Mia was rescued at just nine days old in October 2019, when she was found with her mum in extremely poor conditions. She has been available for rehoming since November 2022, and over 800 days Mia had to watch on as 1,500 of her furry and feathered friends at Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire move on without her. In total, she has spent nearly her whole life in RSPCA care, and more than two years waiting to be adopted. After spending her fifth birthday at the centre in October last year, Mia’s wish has finally come true - and last month the RSPCA’s longest-staying resident said goodbye to her friends at Southridge and made the 200-mile journey to her new home in North Yorkshire with Chris Greenwell. At last, it looks like true love - as Chris is smitten with Mia. “Mia is a superb dog and a great companion - she brings a smile to my face every day,” said Chris. “She’s been with me for nearly a month, but it feels like she’s been here forever, she’s settled in so well. Considering she’s not spent much time in a home environment, she adapted incredibly well. “She immediately adopted a sofa, and it’s been hard to get her out of it since - if I sit down and put my feet up, she gives me an exasperated sigh and moves over to the armchair instead. “Mia adores my 15-year-old daughter Seren and loves playing with her dogs, they have great fun together. If I say ‘where’s Seren?’ Mia will immediately look to the door for her, which is very sweet.” The now happy hound is one of countless dogs rehomed by the RSPCA each year - and thankfully has quickly settled into her loving new home. Chris added: “As time has gone on she’s really come out of her shell - she’s very cheeky, creeping into my home office when I’m in meetings and turning my wicker bin into her new toy. She’s very playful and full of energy - every day after breakfast she’ll run to choose a toy. She loves anything with a squeak and playing tug of war - three toys have been destroyed already! “She’s a very sweet girl and so eager to please, she loves training and keeping her brain busy. She’s an incredibly curious dog, always wanting to know where everything is and what’s going on. “Recently she has started coming hiking with me and encountering rivers, moorland, rocky trails and waterfalls for the first time. She's already discovered that though peat bogs look solid, they aren't always, which led to an introduction to the shower! “She loves making new friends, both doggy and human, and you can see the enjoyment in her when we go out for walks or play with toys together. I’m so pleased I’ve been able to give her a happy life and a loving home - I have no idea why such a special dog was in care for so long, but the way she’s settled into home life is amazing. ‘Everyone she meets, she wins over - even people who aren’t ‘doggy people’. She’s exceeded expectations in every way, Mia really is the epitome of man' s best friend.” Staff at RSPCA Southridge - who organised a fifth birthday party for Mia before she was rehomed - are “thrilled” that the “one in a million” dog has been adopted. Claire Hoffman, behaviour and welfare advisor at RSPCA Southridge, said: “Mia had spent almost her entire life in kennels - 35 years in dog years - and we’re so happy she’s finally found her forever home. “She had a challenging start to life, but despite that, she blossomed into such a pretty, friendly and very intelligent dog with so much love to give - she really is one-in-a-million and I’m so happy she’s thriving in her new home. “Her long wait was completely heart-breaking - we think she was the RSPCA’s longest ‘available for rehoming’ pet and the country’s most unwanted dog, a title no animal deserves. But we’re all thrilled her story now has a happy ending.”
Keywords: video,photo,mia,dog,animals,pets,feature,rspca
PersonInImage: