Butch and Max, with RSPCA SA dog-team member Emma at RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter.
Maggie and Roy, Roxy and Clay, Molly and Axel and Zeus and Buddha have more in common than just being dogs. All of them have been surrendered by owners unable to care for them any longer, and all are seeking homes where they can stay together. RSPCA South Australia’s Dog Team Manager Sam Margrave can’t recall ever having so many bonded canine pairs up for adoption at the same time.
“We always aim to keep animals together if they have a strong bond, and that is certainly the case with all of these pairs,” Mrs Margrave said.
“It’s most beneficial to not separate them – they depend on each other for mutual support.”
Nowhere is this more evident than with Butch and Max. Five-year-old Sharpei cross Butch and his eight- year-old pal Max, a Jack Russell Terrier cross, were surrendered by their owner, who was moving and couldn’t take them with him. The pair arrived at the Lonsdale shelter on 2 March and found a new home this week.
“Like many Sharpeis, Max has eye issues and was almost totally blind when he first came in,” Mrs Margrave said.
“He’s since had surgery to correct entropian, but his eyesight is still not 100%. He relies on Max to be his seeing eye support and follows him about – it’s very sweet to watch and we’re delighted that these two have at last found a home.”
Accommodation issues were the main reason for the bonded dogs being surrendered, as well as difficulties with covering the costs of veterinary care. The most senior of the pairs is Maggie and Roy, both 12-year-old Border Collie crosses who were surrendered by their owner on 22 March.
These bonded buddies are among 156 dogs currently in RSPCA SA care, 65 of them in foster care. A total of 33 dogs are available to adopt today.
You can search dogs currently available for adoption HERE.
