The RSPCA has revealed that Mia, a Dutch Shepherd dog, has spent over 700 days in their care, making her the charity’s longest-stay dog.

Mia’s lengthy stay highlights the wider rehoming crisis across England and Wales, as many animals wait longer than ever to find new homes.

Despite being described as loving and affectionate, Mia has yet to find her forever home after almost two years at the RSPCA’s Southridge Animal Centre in Hertfordshire. Mia, who recently celebrated her fifth birthday, remains without a permanent family despite numerous press and social media appeals.

Mia’s situation is not unique. According to new data from the RSPCA, 118 animals, including dogs, cats, and rabbits, at national rehoming centres have been waiting more than 100 days to be adopted. The average wait time for animals to be rehomed has increased by 31% over the past five years, with pets now waiting an average of 41.4 days before being adopted, up from 31.7 days in 2019.

Rehoming Crisis Worsens Across England and Wales

The RSPCA’s data highlights a growing issue: rehoming centres across England and Wales are struggling to place animals, causing a backlog that limits their ability to take in new rescues. Many animals are forced to wait in emergency boarding centres due to the lack of available space in rehoming centres.

One of the primary reasons for the increasing number of long-stay animals is that the RSPCA prioritises animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. These animals often require extensive veterinary and behavioural rehabilitation, making them harder to rehome. They need experienced owners who are prepared to continue their rehabilitation at home.

As of 3 October, 118 animals across the RSPCA’s 14 national centres had been waiting for over 100 days. This figure does not include animals in the charity’s 135 independent branches, where numerous pets are also experiencing long stays while awaiting adoption.

Appeal for Experienced Adopters

Karen Colman, who oversees the RSPCA’s animal placement efforts, has issued a plea to potential adopters to consider rehoming pets who have spent a long time in the charity’s care. She emphasised that many animals, including Mia, are waiting patiently for new homes but are being overlooked, often due to their specific rehoming needs.

Colman stated, “We have so many absolutely wonderful dogs, cats, and rabbits who through no fault of their own are sitting at rescue centres, waiting for the next chapter of their lives to begin. Unfortunately, we find it most challenging to rehome animals with specific requirements.”

The RSPCA hopes to match these long-stay animals with experienced adopters who can meet their needs. The longer animals like Mia remain in rehoming centres, the fewer spaces there are for other rescued pets, creating a logjam that prevents more animals from being rescued and cared for.

The charity is currently experiencing a significant strain on its resources, with many animals being kept in temporary and emergency boarding facilities because permanent space in the rehoming centres is unavailable.

Mia’s Long Journey to Find a Home

Mia’s story began in November 2022 when she became available for adoption after spending her early life in a foster home. Despite extensive efforts to find her a home, including multiple appeals through the press and social media, Mia remains unadopted.

Claire Hoffman, who looks after Mia at Southridge Animal Centre, said, “Mia had such a challenging start to life, but with a lot of love and care, she has grown into a really lovely dog. Despite her circumstances, she deserves to find a home where she can be part of a family.”

The team at Southridge is eager to see Mia placed in a suitable home, particularly one with an experienced adult who has the time, space, and dedication to care for her. Mia may be able to live with a male dog and would thrive in a home with space both indoors and outdoors.

Hoffman added, “Mia is on our website, all over social media, and we speak to everyone we can about her. Despite this, she has not yet found a suitable home. It’s heartbreaking because she is such a wonderful dog, and we don’t understand why she’s still waiting.”