Dog finds 'spot on the sofa' after three-year wait

Flash now lives in Blaydon in Gateshead with his owner Christopher Bates

A rescue dog which had only been visited once during his three-year wait for a home has finally been adopted.

Nine-year-old lurcher Flash was handed over to Dogs Trust in July 2022, but efforts to rehome him had been unsuccessful "through no fault of his own".

He was one of the longest residents at the charity's site in Sadberge, near Darlington.

But now he has been adopted by Christopher Bates in Blaydon, Gateshead, who had read the original BBC article about the lurcher. "He's such a beautiful dog," he said.

Dogs Trust staff held a dedicated open day for Flash earlier this year, where the public were invited to meet him, but nobody turned up.

Nikki Holroyd, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust Darlington, said "it was heartbreaking" at the time.

Although some rescue animals can have complex requirements, Ms Holroyd said Flash was "no trouble", fine with people and loved to travel on adventures.

Nikki Holroyd said the team loved Flash

Mr Bates said as soon as Flash walked through the front door of his home, he had made himself at home.

"He's taken his spot on the sofa and hasn't moved from there since," he said.

"He's just so pleasant," he said. "That's why we were so surprised that nobody had adopted him earlier."

Flash soon made himself at home, according to his new owner

Ms Holroyd said she was thrilled Flash had found a home.

"We are so so thrilled," she said. "You just want to bottle the feeling up - it's amazing."