Dutch Shepherd Mia, who was rescued by RSPCA Inspectors at just nine days old in October 2019, had been on the lookout for a new family since November 2022.
Despite watching 1,500 other animals find homes, Mia remained at Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire, where she spent almost her entire life.
Celebrating her fifth birthday at the centre last October, Mia longed for a place to call her own. Her dream was realised last month when she bid farewell to Southridge and embarked on a 200-mile journey to North Yorkshire with her new owner, Chris Greenwell.
Chris shared his joy: “Mia is a superb dog and a great companion – she brings a smile to my face every day.
“She’s been with me for nearly a month, but it feels like she’s been here forever, she’s settled in so well.”
Chris marvelled at how quickly Mia adapted to home life, saying, “Considering she’s not spent much time in a home environment, she adapted incredibly well.”
He recounted, “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,” Chris said.
“If I say ‘where’s Seren?’ Mia will immediately look to the door for her, which is very sweet.”
Mia 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!”.
“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 lead to an introduction to the shower!”.
“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.”
