It’s been ruff for the nation’s most unwanted dog — but she finally found her forever home.
When Mia the Dutch Shepherd was rescued by UK inspectors of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in October 2019, she was just nine days old.
The “sweet” pup, available for rehoming since November 2022, spent more than two years at Southridge Animal Center in Hertfordshire, England, as 1,500 of her furry friends at the facility found new homes.
But after waiting 800 days and spending her fifth birthday there, the longest-staying resident was finally able to say goodbye and move in with a loving family.
“Mia is a superb dog and a great companion — she brings a smile to my face every day,” her new owner Chris Greenwell told Southwest News Service. “She’s been with me for nearly a month, but it feels like she’s been here forever, she’s settled in so well.”
The staff at RSPCA Southridge are “thrilled” that the “one in a million” dog has been adopted.
“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,” Claire Hoffman, behavior and welfare advisor at RSPCA Southridge, said.
“Her long wait was completely heartbreaking — we think she was the RSPCA’s longest ‘available for rehoming’ pet and the country’s most unwanted dog, a title no animal deserves.”
Last month, Greenwell took Mia to her new home in North Yorkshire — 200 miles away.
“Considering she’s not spent much time in a home environment, she adapted incredibly well,” Greenwell shared, adding that the pup loves his 15-year-old daughter Seren and even looks for her, “which is very sweet.”
“She immediately adopted a sofa, and it’s been hard to get her out of it since,” he said. “If I sit down and put my feet up, she gives me an exasperated sigh and moves over to the armchair instead.”
Of course, it’s taken some time for Mia to fully adjust to living in a family home after spending her years with RSPCA.
“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,” Greenwell shared. “She’s very playful and full of energy.”
Mia’s new pet parent said that every day after she finishes her breakfast, she runs to choose a toy. Her favorites are “anything with a squeak” — and she’s already lovingly destroyed three.
The pup also loves playing tug of war, as well as outdoor activities.
“Recently, she has started coming hiking with me and encountering rivers, moorland, rocky trails and waterfalls for the first time,” Greenwell said.
“She’s already discovered that though peat bogs look solid, they aren’t always, which leads to an introduction to the shower!” he quipped.
Even with a “challenging start” to life, Mia defied the odds for the “most unwanted dog.”
“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,” Hoffman said. “We’re all thrilled her story now has a happy ending.
“She’s exceeded expectations in every way; Mia really is the epitome of man’s best friend,” Greenwell added.
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