A dog being cared for at Cornwall’s RSPCA centre in St Columb is helping to front the charity’s annual rehoming campaign.

Lulu, an eight-year-old crossbreed being looked after at the William and Patricia Venton Animal Centre, is helping to promote Adoptober.

The RSPCA is facing a rehoming crisis with record numbers of rescued dogs in care across RSPCA national animal centres and branches.

New data from the charity has revealed that it can take up to seven times longer for some larger dog breeds to find a new home compared to smaller dogs.

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.

“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.”

The RSPCA as a whole across its centres and branches rehomed 26,167 animals in 2024.

Branches are part of the RSPCA but run as charities in their own right to re-home and rehabilitate animals across England and Wales.

Emily Bowen from RSPCA Cornwall said: “Lulu is a sweet, loving, and clever girl who thrives on attention, cuddles, and playtime. She enjoys belly rubs, playing with toys, and curling up for some quiet time indoors.

“Lulu is easy to house train, has lived in a home before, and travels well in the car. Once settled, she’s perfectly fine being left alone for a few hours and walks beautifully on the lead while wearing her muzzle.

“Lulu loves routine and would thrive in a home with a secure garden where she can burn off some energy without having to worry about her surroundings. With careful management, Lulu can be introduced to other dogs and has loved running around with her doggy friends here at the centre.”

Lulu will need to be kept on lead and muzzled at all times while out of the home due to her reactions to some other dogs. Full support will be provided to adopters in following her training plan and making sure she has positive experiences outdoors.

Staff and volunteers at The William and Patricia Venton Animal Centre now hope the perfect family who will be confident in managing her needs will be soon knocking on their door.

“If you're ready to provide Lulu with a stable, loving home, we’d love to hear from you,” added Emily. “She is just a sweetheart who melts the hearts around her with cuddles and cleverness.”

The RSPCA says it is important to understand the costs of owning a pet. The RSPCA pet cost calculator can help people prepare. It is also important to consider pet insurance to protect against unexpected costs.

For more information and to complete the online application form please visit Lulu’s Find A Pet page.