The RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting larger dogs this Adoptober as the charity is struggling with record numbers of dogs in its care – with a number of desperately lonely dogs waiting to find a home at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre.
New data from the charity* reveals that it can take up to seven times longer for some larger dog breeds to find a new home compared to smaller dogs.
This summer** the charity reached a crisis point with record numbers of rescued dogs in their care – most in private kennels as national centres were too full to take them.
To ease the pressure, the RSPCA is issuing an urgent plea for adopters to consider harder to rehome and large breed dogs including Mastiff Sweeny, Husky Lexi (pictured) and Mastiff Pat, Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) Willow who are all at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre in Frankley.
Mastiffs, Huskies and Belgian Shepherd all feature in the top 20 breeds of dogs which wait longest to find a home. (table below)
RSPCA pet behaviour expert Dr Sam Gaines said: “We urgently need homes for big dogs, who can wait seven times longer than smaller dogs to find their forever home.
“We are in an unprecedented rehoming crisis as several large-scale cruelty and neglect cases have led to record numbers of dogs and cats in our care and are at risk of running out of space. We desperately need adopters now more than ever, so we can continue to rescue and care for the animals who need us.
“It’s the perfect storm with dogs rescued from cruelty and neglect needing longer to recover and needing more specialist homes, and at the same time, rehoming has slowed right across the welfare sector.”
Sam added: “Our unique and special dogs may not be the right pet for everyone. Some need some extra help to help them recover from their past, some are misunderstood because of the way they look, some need quiet homes with no other pets, and others need owners who can keep up with their boundless zest for life.
“But we know the right people are out there and urgently need to hear from them.
Gentle giants, big softies and larger than life characters; we’ve got every kind of big dog, each one is unique, special and deserves a second chance of happiness.”
Research from the RSPCA* found that while the average time for all breeds of dogs between being ready to rehome and then finding a loving forever family is 41 days, but larger breeds of dogs can wait much longer.
These figures are in stark contrast to the short time smaller dog breeds had to wait before finding their forever home. The average length of stay for Yorkshire terriers was just seven days, for chihuahuas, it was 12 days, and cocker spaniels 16 days.
RSPCA Operations Manager Glenn Mayoll said: “We’d really love potential adopters to keep a more open mind when it comes to bigger breeds.
“Bull breeds like mastiffs and bulldogs are often perceived as aggressive, when there’s no evidence that any one breed is more aggressive than another. In fact, like all dogs, some can actually be a bit nervous and fearful – big softies who need owners to help build their confidence.
“Sighthounds like greyhounds, lurchers and salukis, depending on their background, will often need to wear muzzles, and may not be able to live in homes or areas with cats or small furries which means there’s fewer good homes for them. There’s also a misconception that they need more walking or exercise, which may not be the case for every dog.
“A lot of dogs in our care are breeds or types, who were traditionally selectively bred to work on farms, guard livestock or pull sleds – Border Collies, huskies, Akitas, German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois.
“These dogs may need a lifestyle which is a bit busier with committed owners who are prepared to keep them physically and mentally active by giving them puzzles, games and training.
“Of course every dog is different, and some may be happy with short walks and snoozing on the sofa.”
Glenn added: “Unlike other charities, RSPCA dogs have been rescued from cruelty and neglect and sadly many have behavioural issues as a result of their experiences. These special dogs need extra special people who are willing to win their trust, be patient and work with them to help them recover from their past.
“We’d love people to put perceptions about big dogs or specific breeds to one side. Come and visit our Findapet website and just look at our bigger dogs. Every dog in our care has a unique story of survival, and potential adopters might be surprised by who is a good match for them.
“We are confident the right homes are out there and we urgently need to find them.”
Big dogs looking for homes at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre
At RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre, staff and volunteers hope this Adoptober will help find forever homes for some of their harder to rehome and large breed dogs including Mastiff Sweeny, Husky Lexiand Mastiff Pat, Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) Willow.
Sweeny is a young Bull mastiff who staff and volunteers at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre are desperate to find him his forever home!
A centre spokesperson said: “Mastiff fans are going to adore his goofy character, desire to play and need for fuss and love!
“Sweeny is a clever lad who learns fast – particularly when there is a treat involved! He loves going for quiet walks on his long line and running and playing in our off-lead areas.”
Sweeny will need to be the only dog in the home with adopters experienced with mastiffs or similar breeds and who have the space and time to provide all the love and training Sweeny needs. Children in the home would need to be teenagers or older.
The spokesperson added: “Sweeny may be a big boy but he’s a puppy at heart and just needs the loving guidance that he missed out on when he was very young.
“Please get in touch if you think you can help this amazing, gentle and big-hearted lad find his forever home.”
Lexi is a young Husky with a sensitive heart and a playful spirit.
A spokeperson said: “At just around a year old, she’s still finding her paws in the world and is looking for a calm, experienced home where she can grow in confidence and thrive.
“Her ideal match will understand the unique needs of her breed — someone who can offer gentle guidance, someone who is around for most of the day, daily structure, and a lifestyle that includes lots of outdoor time and enrichment.”
Lexi came into RSPCA care due to unsuitable living conditions and is now looking for her forever home
“Lexi is friendly and affectionate once she trusts you, but she can be timid in new situations and needs a home that will allow her to build confidence at her own pace,” added the spokesperson.
“She’s selective with dog friends and would do best as the only pet, where she can truly relax and feel secure. She has lived with another dog before, but whilst with us she has proven to be a little picky with her friends so we believe she’d be happiest having her humans all to herself.
“We really hope Adoptober will be the month for Lexi to finally have her happily ever after and she would prefer an adult-only home.”
Pat originally came into RSPCA care in May 2024 at the age of 12 weeks old. She and her siblings were part of an ongoing cruelty case which meant that she had to stay in RSPCA care a little longer than we had hoped for a dog of her age.
She was able to be rehomed four months later but now she is aged one and is still patiently waiting for her chance to find a loving home.
“Pat loves having time out of her kennel, whether that’s going on walks on the field, running and playing off lead in our secure areas, having doggy play dates or having a cuddle on the sofa,” said the spokesperson. “She is a sweet girl and has so much love to give!
“Pat really enjoys the company of other dogs so we feel she could live with another dog in her new home as long as they can match her energy!
“As you can imagine, growing up in kennels has meant that Pat can find new situations a little overwhelming so she will need dedicated adopters to help Pat adapt into the real world at her pace.”
Willow is a gentle soul and who is only around 10 months old so is still learning about the world.
Willow can be a little timid at first, but she blossoms with gentle handling and a calm, patient approach. She is very friendly and affectionate once she trusts you.
“Willow came from a multi-dog household where her needs couldn’t be fully met and is now looking for a home where she can truly thrive,” said the spokesperson.
“She’s a high-energy pup who will do well with active adopters who understand her breed traits and can offer her plenty of physical and mental stimulation—whether that’s long walks, training games, or canine enrichment.
Willow gets along well with other dogs, though she can be a bit vocal when first meeting them. With positive introductions and continued socialisation, she could happily live with another friendly dog and could live with secondary school-aged children or older.
If you are interested in Sweeny, Lexi, Pat or Willow please get in touch with the centre or fill in an online application form.
Getting a pet brings a lot of joy, but before committing, it’s important to understand the costs. The RSPCA pet cost calculator can help you prepare. It’s also important to consider pet insurance to protect against unexpected costs.
More information about dogs and other animals available for adoption can be found on the RSPCA’s ‘Findapet’ webpage.
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