Three-year-old Charm has been at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London for 461 days — more than 10 times the average stay — and is still searching for her loving forever home this National Rescue Day
This National Rescue Day marks 461 days since three-year-old Charm first arrived at the rescue centre in Battersea, London, and she remains patiently waiting for her loving forever home.
Charm was previously used as a racing greyhound, with little exposure to the outside world and virtually no understanding of domestic life with a family.
Despite spending well over a year in the care of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, she has come on leaps and bounds, with her confidence flourishing. Now, she is more than ready to find her place in a loving home where she can snuggle up and feel truly at ease.
The unfortunate pooch has been at Battersea for 10 times longer than most dogs they take in through absolutely no fault of her own. The average stay is 38 days, yet Charm has been there for over 450, a situation all too familiar for her breed.
This is largely due to the misconceptions that tend to shadow Greyhounds. Many people mistakenly assume their energy levels and exercise demands are too much for the average owner.
However, the team at Battersea are eager to reassure prospective dog owners that while Charm adores a good run, she is equally content lounging at home.
Hannah Gee, Rehoming Team Leader at Battersea Old Windsor, said: “Lovely Charm lives up to her name in every way. She can be initially cautious around new people, but once she gets to know you, her playful and friendly personality shines through.
“While she does experience short bursts of high energy, what we like to call Greyhound ‘zoomies’, she’s quite happy to potter around or snooze the day away. There’s no doubt she’s a staff favourite, and we’re all rooting for her to find her perfect match.”
To maximise Charm’s chances of finding a forever home, staff worked to prepare her for life beyond the kennels and arranged some valuable time with a foster carer.
It was during this period she discovered how to welcome affection and spent many evenings curled up on the sofa with her temporary guardian, nudging for additional belly rubs.
The rehoming team leader revealed the three-year-old greyhound proved to be an “excellent house guest”.
Hannah said: “She settled into her foster home surprisingly quickly and took all the new sights and sounds, including the TV, in her stride.
“It’s become clear that her love of food knows no bounds, and while her table manners could do with some work, her excitement around dinnertime only adds to her character. She’s such a loving girl and is going to make someone a wonderful companion.”
Because of her previous experiences, Charm’s anxious nature can still emerge occasionally during walks, so ideally, she would thrive best in a calmer environment.
This would give her the opportunity to gradually become comfortable with familiar surroundings, faces and objects without being perpetually overwhelmed.
If you’ve been won over by this special girl and would like to get in touch with the rehoming team at Battersea, visit their website to register your interest here: https://www.battersea.org.uk/
