Scotland’s loneliest dog needs a home

Bolt, a Staffordshire bull terrier, has been moved to the SSPCA's Aberdeenshire rehoming centre. Picture: Contributed

Adorable Staffordshire bull terrier Bolt, 5, has spent almost a 18 months being overlooked at kennels in Glasgow.

Now the Scottish SPCA has moved the friendly pooch to a rehoming centre in Aberdeenshire with the hope of finding him a new owner there.

Boisterous Bolt has waited patiently for someone to love him for 523 days after he was found roaming the streets in Glasgow in 2012 before being taken to the Scottish SPCA’s rehoming centre.

Only one dog has ever spent longer in the charity’s kennels, and that was Staffordshire bull terrier Chance who was in care for exactly 18 months before being snapped up by a family in 2011.

Scottish SPCA assistant manager Debbie Innes said today/yesterday [THURS]: “Quite simply, Bolt is nobody’s dog.

“Nobody seems to want him and nobody seems to care that this poor boy has spent nearly a year and a half in kennels.

“But we care, which is why we’ve launched a special appeal to finally find him the devoted owner he deserves.

“Bolt didn’t have any luck finding a new home at our centre in Glasgow so he’s been moved up here to give him a better chance of meeting his perfect owner.

“We never put any healthy animals to sleep so we won’t give up on Bolt, even if it takes him another 500 days to be rehomed.”

But Ms Innes doesn’t want Bolt to have to spend a third Christmas without a family.

She said: “We’re hoping his story will touch someone in the Aberdeenshire area and we’ve had plenty of success stories in the past with dogs who had previously been passed by for months on end.

“Bolt’s heart grows heavier every time he sees his fellow dogs leaving to start their new lives and it must be very difficult for him to understand why he hasn’t been chosen yet.

“It is so sad as he’s a wonderful, affectionate dog who just wants to make everybody happy.

“Bolt is also really well trained and excels at agility, in fact he could give any collie a run for their money when it comes to leaping over those jumps.

“Although Bolt is quite laid back around other dogs, we think after waiting so long for the right person to come along he’d prefer to have them all to himself.

“As he is rather bouncy we feel he may be too much for youngsters but he may enjoy the company of teenagers in his new home.

“There is no doubt Bolt will give his family complete love and devotion.

“He will make them smile, he will care about them and he will be their forever loving friend, playmate and companion.

“Whoever has the privilege of rehoming Bolt should count themselves very lucky indeed.”

Anyone who can offer Bolt a new home is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA’s centre in Aberdeenshire on 03000 999 999.