The dog adoption season is winding down at the SPCA, but despite the drop-off, there is no end to the number of loveable souls desperate for a new home.

SPCA marketing manager Raina Roberts said that dog adoptions tended to slow down after Christmas when everyone was gearing up for school and work.

While puppies tend to fly out the door, older dogs are more difficult to rehome - even though they are often easier to care for and more adaptable to new owners.

Puppies require 24-7 care and attention, but older dogs can be trained faster, usually come house trained, and are eager to please.

One such character is Trevor. Hit by a car and left for dead, he was whisked away in the SPCA animal ambulance to be patched up and cared for. He is now ready to be rehomed. A shy, retiring sort, he would do well with a single owner or a quiet house where he can grow in confidence.

Next door to Trevor is Rosie, a collie-cross. She is about 4 years old and came to the SPCA in a "seriously skinny" and under- nourished state. There's plenty of life left in her though, as she bounces around the pen.

She responds to basic commands and is keen to lick anyone who gets close enough.

Missy is having a hard time being adopted. Her looks are working against her, as she has the wide face and stocky body often associated with staffys and rottweilers. But she is a big old softie, happy to lean against the fence and have everyone pat her.

Most older dogs come to the centre as "owner surrender" - dropped off by an owner or voluntarily given to the SPCA.

While some have had a hard start in life, others have just become a burden for their owners or have had to be abandoned in the hunt for post- quake rental properties.

If you are interested in adopting a dog, see: spcacanterbury.org.nz.

- (Live Matches)

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