Britain’s ‘loneliest canine’ Alvin who’s a sofa potato finds dwelling after years in shelter
Alvin, a six-year-old lurcher cross, was one of the RSPCA’s longest-staying dogs after spending over two-and-a-half years in care but now has a new owner in Alan
One of the UK’s most solitary dogs has finally found his forever home after nearly three years in kennels. Alvin, a six-year-old tan and white lurcher cross, was one of the RSPCA’s longest-staying dogs, having spent over two-and-a-half years in their care.
He was rescued from a property in May 2022 with untreated injuries and received care from the team at the RSPCA’s Warrington, Halton & St Helens Branch in Cheshire. Despite being a favourite among staff, who lovingly referred to him as an “adorable couch potato”, Alvin struggled to attract potential adopters.
Eventually, he was transferred 30 miles away to the RSPCA’s Preston and District branch in Lancashire, where Alan Eastman spotted him on their website. The lovable dog has now found his forever home with Alan, who describes him as a “gentle giant”.
Alan, who lives near Preston, said: “I’d always fancied having a lurcher and he just seemed to tick all the right boxes. He has three short walks a day but always a long sleep so he’s definitely a couch potato.”
Alan added: “He’s still got some scarring on his legs but considering everything he’s been through, the fact he will trust humans again is remarkable.”
Alvin first came into RSPCA care in May 2022 after being rescued from a house in the West Midlands with hunting injuries that his previous owner had neglected to treat.
The team nursed him back to health, but due to legal constraints, he couldn’t be put up for adoption until February 2024, after his previous owner, who was disqualified from keeping animals, finally agreed to sign him over for rehoming. Despite numerous appeals, Alvin didn’t attract any interest and was moved to another RSPCA branch in Lancashire in the hope of finding him a forever home.
After spending more than two-and-a-half years in kennels, Alvin was finally noticed by Alan Eastham on the RSPCA’s website. Alan officially adopted the lovable pup in December, having fallen head over heels for him.
He shared: “As the months went on, his personality really started to shine through. I can open a wrapper in the kitchen and he’ll be asleep somewhere else, hear it and be next to me before I know it.”
Alan also mentioned the progress they’ve made with training: “We’ve done a lot of training to help him overcome some of his fears, mainly around other dogs, and now we’ve got to the stage where he’ll walk past them on the other side of the road.”
Ashleigh Kay, Animal Care Manager at Preston Branch, spoke fondly of Alvin’s departure: “Seeing him go off to start his new adventure with Alan and his family was one of the highlights of the year for our team.”
