The loneliest dog in Battersea faces Christmas in kennels after five months of looking for new owners.

Wandsworth Times:

Six-year-old Gizmo has already spend five months at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where he came in as a stray.

Gizmo was so shy when he first arrived it took staff a week before they could coax him out of his bed. 

Rehoming and welfare assistant Sarah Parkinson fell in love with the staffie and fosters him every night, bringing him back to Battersea the next day.

Gizmo starts to cry as soon as he sees he is going back into his kennel. Ms Parkinson said: "Gizmo is an incredibly loving and affectionate dog but he’s a total softie so kennels are proving really hard for him. 

Unfortunately Ms Parkinson is unable to take him home over Christmas because of family commitments. She added: "He’s frightened of traffic, of the dark and even rain - he screws up his face and tries to hide from it.

"It breaks my heart hearing him cry when I put him in his kennel for the day. It would be the best present ever for Gizmo to find a new home before Christmas."

Wandsworth Times:

If you think that you could offer a nervous dog like Gizmo the right home, please contact Battersea on 0843 509 4444 or visit www.battersea.org.uk.

If you think you could provide a foster home for some of Battersea’s animals email fostering@battersea.org.uk.