Older dogs in Salisbury need their day
The Dogs Trust in Salisbury have many older dogs looking for forever homes
They say every dog has its day, but that might not be true for some of the old guard at Salisbury's Dogs Trust centre.
Since June this year, 40% of people wanting to adopt a dog of a specific age sought a dog under six-months old.
Just 10% were after a four-legged friend over the age of eight.
But the Centre Manager in Salisbury, Claire Rowe, says older dogs are just as deserving of love, attention and care as younger pups.
However, she does admit that there considerations that may put people off adopting an older dog.
"There are also other reasons, such as age and health, and sometimes those considerations go hand in hand with the concern about the potential for vet costs with an older dog."
But there are many benefits to having an older dog, including they're already house trained and have lower energy levels, meaning they don't always require as much exercise as a young pup might.
"Older dogs are fantastic for being able to snuggle up on the sofa with and just have a snooze. And if you've been out for a nice walk in the afternoon and you just want to come home and chill out.
"What better way to just spend the rest of your day than snuggled up on the sofa with an older dog?"
Meet Pippin and Bruno
The 'Golden Oldies' waiting to find their forever home in Salisbury include Lurcher's Bruno and Pippin.
Over 350 Lurcher-type dogs have come into the care of the charity this year, with eight of them now at the Salisbury centre.
Nine-year-old Bruno is described as a dog that 'adores' humans and loves to play with his toys, while 11-year-old Pippin is a 'sweet natured and gentle' girl.
Asked why so many Lurcher-types are being brought to the Dogs Trust, Claire said there are some misconceptions about Lurchers.
"Some people may believe that they need lots of exercise," she said.
"However, Lurchers are quite happy to snuggle up on the sofa and they don't necessarily need to have really long walks."
Rehoming is achieved on a case-by-case basis, where the experts at the Salisbury Dogs Trust centre will fit your lifestyle with a dog that matches.