Inseparable rescued dogs had never been outside, RSPCA says

Ronnie and Patch spent the first six years of their lives in a house with about 50 other dogs

Two dogs who had never been stroked or been outside are still waiting to be rehomed a year after they were rescued.

Ronnie and Patch spent the first six years of their lives in a house with about 50 other dogs, the RSPCA said.

The pair were terrified of humans when they arrived at the Lancashire East branch in Huncoat near Accrington.

The RSPCA's Sue Abraham said they "had never been outside, had a harness put on or been for a walk" and needed help and patience to overcome their fears.

Ronnie, a Jack Russell-Chihuahua cross and Patch, a Pomeranian, are now the longest-staying residents at the centre.

Staff have spent months working with the nervous dogs, who they said "find solace in each and must be rehomed together".

Ronnie had also had a significant amount of dental work carried out and most of his teeth had been removed, the charity said.

Ronnie and Patch have to be rehomed together

Ms Abraham, fostering coordinator for the branch, said they "had received next to no socialisation or training" and "were quite a challenging pair" but "are now becoming happier around people and making friends a lot faster".

She said the timid pair needed a calm and adult-only home with no other pets and "patient, committed owners" who had experience with dogs and understood that "they're not going to get cuddles from Ronnie and Patch for many weeks, if not months".