Happily Re-homed Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dogs

GEORGE

After spending almost five months in our care 12 year young GEORGE has finally found his forever home.

GEORGE's previous owner became to ill to take care of him and as a result his future was very bleak until NISBTR was contacted by the South Eastern Health Trust with a request for help.

Like all of those that need assistance, GEORGE was a very deserving senior Staffordshire Bull Terrier and we knew that we had to do what we could to secure his future. GEORGE underwent a great deal of surgery when he first came to us that was paid for by the very generous and kind people that support the work we do.

We are delighted that GEORGE has been given the wonderful gift of a home for life by a truly amazing family - the same family that adopted another of our senior dogs and provided the very best for him until he very sadly crossed Rainbow Bridge.

ROXY

12 month old ROXY was surrendered into our care after her family could no longer look after her. She settled into foster care very quickly and it wasn't long before we realised just what a sweet, gentle and affectionate little dog she was. Like so many dogs that find themselves in rescue situations, ROXY had done nothing wrong to warrant her situation. She quite simply, like many of the others, had unwittingly been part of an ill thought out plan by irresponsible owners to have a dog.

Once fully assessed, ROXY went on a home trial with a wonderful family of seven - Mum, Dad and five beautiful young children. She settled in in no time at all and really has made the family's dream of owning a little rescue Stafford come true. ROXY loves all of the attention she receives and really has made the family proud by being a perfect family pet especially with the very youngest of the children.

MYLO

10 year young MYLO came to NISBTR after her elderly owner could no longer take care of her. This precious little girl was rather overweight when she arrived so we placed her on a strict diet and before long she starting to lose the pounds. She became fitter, healthier and happier.

MYLO made lots of new canine friends whilst she was with us and it wasn't long before a family that had recently been bereaved of their beloved Stafford contacted us - they wondered if MYLO might make the perfect company for their remaining SBT.

After several 'meet and greets' with the family and their dog, MYLO embarked on a two week home trial. She stole the hearts of everyone who met her and settled down very quickly to her new life.

MYLO is living a life surrounded by love and affection and can look forward to spending her retirement years with her wonderful new family.

HARLEY

HARLEY was surrendered into our care just before his 6th birthday. This very sociable, friendly and lovable boy was only with us for a short period of time for his assessment before he embarked on his new life with a wonderful couple who had been bereaved of their beloved dog just a few months earlier. HARLEY'S new family were missing having a Stafford around the house so much and had asked if they could be considered for adopting one of our Rescue dogs.

The moment HARLEY arrived we contacted Karin and Richard and asked if they would like to meet him once he was settled in with us. The union went so well that HARLEY moved into his 5* home shortly afterwards and is now enjoying all of the attention that he is receiving. Things could not have worked out better for this gorgeous boy.

TIA

4 year old TIA came into our care from Ards and North Down Council Dog Pound. It was clear that TIA had had several litters of puppies in her short life before being abandoned by her previous owner/s.

With her confidence so low NISBTR started work on building up her self-esteem and reassuring her that she would never be abandoned again. It took a little while for her to trust again but it was such a joy to see such a happy and loving little dog come out of herself.

TIA's calm and relaxed personality was a perfect match for a family who had been looking for a Stafford just like her. TIA now has a home where she will be loved and taken care of for the rest of her life.

MABLE

5 and a half year old MABLE came to us from Ards and North Down Council Dog Pound. She had been surrendered to the Pound by her previous family that had owned her since she was a puppy.

This very sweet, loving girl who is very well-behaved and well-mannered spent several weeks in foster care whilst we searched for the perfect home for her. That home came when we were contacted by a senior couple who had been bereaved of their beloved Stafford.

Mable is now loving life living in a beautiful countryside dwelling on the outskirts of Downpatrick. She is a very much loved pet and will never find herself in such a dangerous place for a Stafford again.

GHOST

GHOST had just turned two years of age when he came into care under very unfortunate circumstances. Through no fault of his own this lovable and friendly SBT had lost him family overnight.

GHOST was assessed over a period of time although we already knew a great deal about his background and history.

We knew that we wanted to find GHOST a home with at least one child because he was so respectful around little people.

A wonderful family with two young children had contacted us several weeks prior to GHOST coming to us and they seemed the pefect choice. We were so delighted for everyone involved that after a two week home trial it was announced that GHOST had found a new family to call his own.

VINNIE

VINNIE was just 12 weeks old when he come into our care and was re-homed a short time after to a family that had been waiting very patiently for a male pup to come along. VINNIE had been an untimely gift after a family had been bereaved of their beloved Stafford at a very early age. They loved VINNIE dearly but knew that it was not the right time to take on another dog and felt that the best thing to do was to ask NISBTR to find him the perfect home.

VINNIE is now loving life being a pup and part of a large family that love him dearly and he has a canine sister called Beau too.

CHARLIE

4 year old CHARLIE was returned to us after almost two years in his previous home. Through absolutely no fault of his own this gorgeous, loving and lovable little Stafford was looking for a home all over again.

Because CHARLIE was so dog friendly (he loves small dogs, big dogs, male dogs, female dogs...just about every dog) and positively thrived in the company of other dogs we decided that this time around CHARLIE would be re-homed to a family that already had at least one other dog.

Five months passed before we received a phone call from a family who had a dog that was very similar to CHARLIE in the way that they knew he needed some canine company and loved all other dogs too. CHARLIE embarked on several meet and greets with the family and their dog and everything went so well that CHARLIE found his way onto their sofa. The two dogs formed an instant bond and CHARLIE was such a wonderful addition to the family that CHARLIE was officially adopted two weeks later.

CHARLIE can now look forward to a wonderful life with lots of walks and exercise with his new family and new found friend Tyson.

WILMA

5 year old WILMA was one of the most tragic cases known to NISBTR. This full of life, gentle, obedient, loyal and loving dog had been taken by her owners to a veterinary surgery to be euthanised for no other reason than they were not willing to continue trying to help her with her severe skin allergies. They had lapsed getting her the right medical attention several times in the past which had led to her being in acute pain and then they gave up altogether.

The veterinary surgeon that was on duty that day contacted us to ask if we could help and persuaded WILMA's previous owners to sign her over to us - we simply could not allow her life to be lost. Together we worked out a plan of action starting with a different medical treatment for WILMA that worked very well. As soon as space was available WILMA was transferred into our care where we continued with the medication and special diet that she had been placed on - the changes in her were amazing and we knew that she was on the right road to recovery and allergy management.

The staff at the veterinary surgery never gave up hope and neither did WILMA. We took that hope and ran with it, making sure that WILMA had everything she needed to make her life comfortable.

There was one particular family that we hoped would like to meet WILMA with the prospect of offering her a forever home. They had recently lost their beloved Stafford at a very young age and had contacted us to say that they would like to be considered for one of our Rescue dogs.

On their very first meeting things went very well and it didn't take long for WILMA to show the family just what a wonderful and deserving SBT she was.

WILMA was adopted on Christmas Eve 2016. What a happy ending for everyone involved in her re-homing.

TOMMY

6 year old TOMMY was an Animal Welfare case and on the day we met him it was clear that he had had a very troubled past. Despite the physical signs of abuse and neglect this gorgeous boy was so loving, gentle and receptive to human kindness - it appeared that his strength of character had not been ground down.

TOMMY adapted to his new life with us very quickly and instantly stole the hearts of everyone that met him. Nothing made him happier than to please those who cared for him. His little mannerisms were so endearing - everyone in Rescue commented on how much he would be missed when he eventually found his forever home.

TOMMY waited three months for that home to appear. A family that had been bereaved of their beloved Stafford and had previously been home checked by us had been following TOMMY's story on our Facebook page. We were over the moon when the family said that they would love to meet him and knew that once they did they would see in TOMMY what everyone else did; a loyal, faithful, happy-go-lucky dog that simply loved people.

TOMMY started his new life with the family the following day and there were celebrations all round that this loveable boy got what he so rightly deserved - a loving, compassionate, caring family that would treasure him for the rest of his life.

FLO

6 year of FLO came into our care from Belfast City Dog Pound. She had been found straying in Belfast approximately three weeks prior to that day and no-one had come forward for her. Heavily bred and heavily overweight, FLO needed some TLC which she received in abundance from us from day one. She was spayed, placed on an obesity diet and given regular, short walks to begin with to build up her fitness.

From the moment we met her FLO made us smile with her funny little ways and her adorable expressions. Everyone who met FLO instantly fell in love with her and felt an urgent need to cuddle her (which she absolutely loved).

Just one week after she came to us FLO had two seizures and was diagnosed as epilectic. We were concerned that it would affect the decision of a family that had arranged to come and meet her because the likelihood was that she would be on medication for the rest of her life. But thankfully, the family weren't at all put off, in fact, we think it made them want to love her even more.

FLO embarked on a home trial and her adoption was announced a short time after. This totally loving, funny, precious girl with so much personality had won the hearts of her new family (and vice versa) at first sight and she can now look forward to a very safe, secure future as a much loved family pet.

BINGO

BINGO was just 7 months of age when he arrived at NISBTR and during the five months after he had been sold by his breeder, BINGO had already had two homes.

BINGO's future was very uncertain especially as he was not neutered, so within two days of his arrival he underwent the operation - he, like all of our dogs, will not be adding to the overwhelming problem of indiscriminate and unnecessary breeding.

NISBTR sometimes has one or two families who have already been home checked by us waiting for a young dog to become available for adoption but that wasn't the case when BINGO arrived. It was completely out of the blue that we received a call from a family who had lost their beloved Stafford more than a year previously. After a lot of discussion, the family felt that they were ready to have another dog in their lives.

Our rescued Staffords will never replace a family's previous dog but we do know that they will bring them lots of happiness and fun times of their own.

BINGO now has a family for life and will never be passed around like a parcel again.

KOBA

KOBA was just 16 weeks old when he came into our care. This precious little boy had a very difficult start in life and there were many times in his formative weeks that it was believed he would not survive. With lots of love and attention from his carer Koba pulled through against all odds and has grown into a happy, bouncy, playful little pup full of life and energy.

NISBTR knew of a family who were looking for a young pup to fill their lives full of fun and laughter having lost their beloved Stafford to old age. Their house just wasn't the same after their loss and Koba seemed perfect for them. Soon after he came to us he was united with his new family who will no doubt love and cherish him for the rest of his life.

MOLLY

Five year old MOLLY first came into our care in November 2016. She had just given birth to a litter of puppies and was surrendered to us by her owner. NISBTR found MOLLY the perfect home after she had been spayed and all was going extremely well until sadly and unexpectedly her owner passed away.

MOLLY came back into our care whilst we searched for another loving home for her. It wasn't long before we were contacted by a family who had recently been bereaved of their beloved Stafford. The family were devastated by their loss but knew that the time was right for them to bring some more Stafford love into their home.

Despite not liking being around other dogs, MOLLY did a fantastic PR job for Staffords whilst she was on her home trial. Indeed, she never put a paw out of place and was exactly what the family had been wishing for.

MOLLY now has a wonderful home with a family that simply adore her and vice versa. This truly was a happy ending for a little Stafford that had been through many ups and downs in her young life.

BARNEY

Aged approximately 7 years, BARNEY had had a terrible life prior to being seized in a Welfare case. Having spent over eight months in a kennel facility BARNEY was gradually introduced to a normal and happy life once he arrived into our care.

Over the first four months with NISBTR and with great understanding and compassion, this soft, gentle and loving SBT was rehabilitated to the point where he could be safely placed in a foster home whilst we searched for the perfect family for him. He continued to blossom and grow in confidence with his foster carer and we were secretly hoping that his rescue journey had come to end.

When we received the news that BARNEY's foster carer would like to keep him as his best friend we were overjoyed. There had been many tears shed over BARNEY's past but knowing that he had found a most wonderful and loving home for the rest of his life made us so happy.

BARNEY is now enjoying lots of human kindness, love and attention as well as lots of outdoor exercise - all things that he had been previously denied.

BARNEY now wakes up every morning, not in fear, but with a real zest for life thanks to everyone involved in his rehabilitation.

FRED

FRED was just 10 months of age when he came into our care along with his dad BARNEY. Both dogs were Welfare cases and had spent eight months in Welfare kennels before being released to NISBTR. This was particularly sad for FRED as he was just an eight week old puppy when he was seized.

NISBTR set about rehabilitating FRED straight away - he had never known life outside a kennel situation and had been deprived of a normal and happy upbringing. We taught him to trust and by taking his training right back to basics we were able to slowly introduce him to living indoors. It took time and patience but four months after he arrived FRED was ready to go to a loving home.

A wonderful family that had been recently bereaved of their beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier had approached us and sounded perfect for FRED. They came to meet him and decided almost straight away that they would love to give him a second chance at life.

FRED is now enjoying all of the creature comforts that every dog should and is a very much loved member of the family.

DEXTER

DEXTER was transferred into our care from Animals In Need NW. He had originally been found tied up to a derelict building. He was starved and very dehydrated when he was spotted by a passer-by who very luckily came to his aid - another few days without food and water would most certainly have resulted in a very slow and painful death.

DEXTER was given all the necessary vetinerary treatment, care and attention he needed to be well enough to be transported to NISBTR. He was placed on a specific diet to build up his weight and strength and was gradually introduced to exercise to tone up his wasted muscles.

Within a few short weeks DEXTER had reached his ideal weight and was returned to good health and fitness. Aged just 20 months, his journey in life had been a very sad and difficult one but once his new family reached out to him his future became very bright indeed.

DEXTER was happily re-homed with a truly amazing family that had previously adopted one of our most senior Staffords, whose life had sadly come to an end just a few days before his 16th birthday. The family were hoping that they would be considered for a younger dog and we could not have been more overjoyed to see DEXTER breath some new energy and life into them with his funny, endearing and boisterous ways.

DEXTER has now found a loving family that will never, ever let him down as he has been in the past, thanks to a little help from a lot of people.

CINDY

Our itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny pocket rocket CINDY was re-homed for the second time after being returned to us almost one year after she was first adopted. All CINDY needed was plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Now that she is getting plenty of that she is the happiest little Staffie in the world.

CINDY has found her forever home with a lovely young couple who completely understand her needs. She settled into her new home very quickly and now she can look forward to spending the rest of her life with them which will include lots of walks and holidays to the family caravan in Co Fermanagh.

ZOLA

5 year old ZOLA was previously re-homed by NISBTR as an 8 month old puppy. After almost four and a half years of being adopted this gorgeous, sensitive boy was returned to us - his family let him down in a really big way.

ZOLA received a Gold Star for his excellent behaviour every day he was with us, he really was such a well-behaved and well-mannered Staffordshire Bull Terrier. A gentle, loving soul, ZOLA was looking for a new best friend who would not let him down and we found that friend in one of our long-term supporters who had very sadly been recently bereaved of his beloved dog.

ZOLA has now found his forever home and can look forward to a very bright, happy and long future.

POPPY

POPPY had just turned 3 years of age when she was surrendered to us along with her mother LILY aged 5 years.

POPPY had always been kept as an outside dog but adapted extremely well to living indoors very quickly. A little mischievous at times and often very funny, POPPY was looking for a home where she would be the centre of attention and would receive lots of 'back to basics' training as she was very immature for her age, most likely due to lack of attention.

This beautiful, affectionate and very loving little Stafford yearned for a family that would be happy and willing to invest lots of time in her and we were very fortunate to find one who could do just that.

POPPY embarked on a home trial after her new family met her and had spent some time with her and quite remarkably (but unsurprisingly) this adorable Staffordshire Bull Terrier was adopted on the very same day!

With a little bit of help from NISBTR, POPPY now has a loving home to call her own where she will be treasured for the rest of her life.

LILY

LILY had just turned 5 years of age when she was surrendered to us along with her daughter POPPY who had just turned 3 years of age.

LILY proved in no time at all that she was an all-round, stable and well-balanced Stafford who would make a wonderful addition to the right family. She was extremely confident and very reliable in every sense. She was a very typical Staffordshire Bull Terrier who loved the outdoors, playing ball and having her tummy rubbed. She walked beautifully on the lead, travelled well in the car and slept well at night. She was non-destructive and could be left for a reasonable amount of time unattended.

We knew that LILY would fit into most family situations and were inundated with requests for more information about her. We also knew that we had found the perfect family for her when we met a lady with an adorable six year old son who had been waiting very patiently to be grown up enough to have a dog to call his own. We were so confident that the two would become the very best of friends given the chance, so LILY went to stay with the family for a few days to see how they all got on.

It came as no surprise to us to hear the lovely updates on how LILY and her new-found friend had become inseperable almost instantly and enjoyed spending every waking minute they could together.

Everybody involved in LILY's re-homing was filled with happiness when she was adopted just a few days after she embarked on her home trial and we very much look forward to seeing LILY and her new best friend grow up together.

HUEY

HUEY was just 10 weeks old when he was found, frightened and alone, under a bush by a passing dog walker in Omagh. The tiny pup was fostered by the dog walker until HUEY was transported to NISBTR two weeks later.

Unsurprisingly, we were inundated with messages from families that wanted to offer HUEY a forever home but there was one application that stood out from all the rest. They had contacted NISBTR six months earlier to let us know that one of their beloved Staffords had sadly passed away and they expressed an interest in adopting a rescue Stafford at some time in the future.

Their application for HUEY was filled with lots of lovely family photos of their dogs who were clearly as much a part of their family as the children were.

HUEY embarked on a home trial to see how well their current Stafford would take to a new puppy in the house and we were delighted that two weeks later HUEY was officially adopted.

ROSIE

ROSIE was surrendered into our care at eight months of age. It didn't take us long to realise just what an energetic but very well-behaved little pup she was. Despite not having been previously socialised with other dogs it became apparent straight away that this bundle of joy just could not wait to make some canine friends so we were delighted when a family that had been bereaved of the beloved Staffie whom they had adopted from us two and a half years earlier and had sadly passed away a few months earlier contacted us to ask if we thought that little ROSIE would fit in with them.

After two 'meet and greets' and three days into her home trial with the family things were really looking good but sadly little Rosie appeared to be suffering from an injury to both of her legs. After visiting our vets and being placed on strict bed rest ROSIE was returned to us so that she could fully recover.

It was a very anxious time for everyone involved especially her prospective family but thankfully ROSIE picked up where she left on her home trial and was adopted a short time afterwards.

We couldn't be more happy for ROSIE and her new family - we know that she, like all of our adopted dogs, will be loved for the rest of her life and have many happy years ahead of her.

STELLA

10 month old STELLA was surrendered into our care because she wasn't able to settle with one of the existing dogs in the family. On occasions, we have a short list of families that have already been home checked who are waiting for the right dog to come along and at the time we met STELLA there was one particular family that we knew would be perfect for her.

A few days after her arrival the family came to meet her and it was pretty much instant love on both sides - another perfect match.

STELLA settled into her new family life in no time at all and we are delighted that she now has a family that will treasure her for the rest of her life.

MAGGIE

10 year young MAGGIE came into our care from Dundalk Dog Rescue (DDR). This precious little girl had been picked up as a stray and no-one came to claim her as she lay lanquishing in a Dublin dog pound. DDR and NISBTR worked together to secure her a place here in Northern Ireland and after spending her first five weeks here recovering from a serious bout of kennel cough MAGGIE became available for adoption.

We were delighted by the number of requests we received from families that were willing to offer a MAGGIE (a senior dog) a home but one family shone through. They had recently been bereaved of their beloved Stafford and couldn't bear not having a dog around to make their home complete.

MAGGIE is now living a complete and happy life and will never, ever find herself abandoned again.

MARTHA

8 year young MARTHA came into our care from Co Louth SPCA. She had been found starved and abandoned having recently had a litter of puppies. It was apparent that this beautiful, soft and gentle little dog had been through a terrible time; afraid of just about everything including sudden movements, noise, shiny floors, the outdoors, being left alone, the dark...the list went on.

Martha was not house trained and had most likely been kept as an outdoor dog. She was very wary of anyone who came within a short distance of her and would often hide away in a corner of a room where she curled up into a ball. The sight of a collar and lead petrified her but underneath her insecurities there was a gentle, loving and completely adorable dog who just wanted to be a normal, happy little girl.

We set about slowly gaining her trust and gave her all of the time in the world to build up her confidence. Within three weeks Martha was allowing us to take her for short walks without her shutting down as she previously had done. She was still suffering from seperation anxiety but as each day went by she got better. After three months of constant care and attention Martha was ready to go to a new home. There were still a few issues that she had but we felt that she would benefit greatly in a home of her own and that with even more time she would work her way through them.

One of our friends and supporters had been following MARTHA's story from the beginning and had made several enquiries about her before she became available for adoption. They knew that MARTHA would need lots of time, patience and love and were very happy to provide them in abundance.

We were delighted when MARTHA was adopted three months after she came to us and we know that she will continue to blossom and live the life that she so rightly deserves thanks to her new family.

THEO

This very handsome boy came into our care from Ards and North Down Council Dog Pound. He was surrendered to the pound after his family could no longer take care of him. During the short space of time that THEO was with us he proved to be an all round excellent Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Around the same time as THEO came to us we received a phone call from a family who were looking for a rescue Stafford just like THEO. Once THEO was fully assessed he embarked on a home trial with the family and passed with flying colours.

THEO now has a family that will treasure him forever. They simply adore him and cannot believe thier luck in finding such a perfect pet.

BOSTON

7 year young BOSTON came into our care after we had spent some time getting to know him prior to his arrival. His circumstances meant that he could no longer stay in the house he was living in and there were lots of tears when BOSTON's guardian had to say goodbye.

This sweet and very gentle little boy settled into his foster home here at NISBTR very quickly and was an absolute pleasure to have around. He always made us laugh with his lovable ways and was a joy to take out for walks.

It was no surprise that we were inundated with requests for more information about him and it wasn't long before we found the perfect family for him.

BOSTON is now living a full and happy life with all of the walks and exercise he needs; things he wasn't able to to enjoy as often as he would have liked due to his circumstances.

BOSTON was, and will always be, a much loved family pet but now, with a little bit of help from NISBTR, this precious boy is living life to the max.

BELLA

Bella was surrendered into our care in June 2018. This precious little girl was with us for short time so that she could be spayed and start her vaccinations. A family that has been waiting patiently for a little dog like BELLA came to meet her and we all agreed that she would be the perfect pet for them.

Less than one week after her arrival BELLA started a new life with a wonderful family who will give her all of the love and attention that she so rightly deserves. She can now look forward to lots of lovely walks, playing games and cuddles on the sofa.

LUCY

MESSI

5 year old MESSI had been in the long-term care of NISBTR since 2014 and had been looking for a family to call his own since February 2018.

MESSI came to us as a young pup who had been born with an underdeveloped windpipe (hypoplastic trachea). It is a condition that needs to be managed carefully and can cause him to struggle to breath on occasions, especially in warm weather. Due to this, MESSI's exercise regime needed to be restricted. It is something that he has coped well with over the years and two or three short walks a day is all he needed to keep him happy.

MESSI's hypoplastic trachea also means that his food has to be given to him in a very watery consistency and that he is never allowed to eat anything other than that (apart from some broken up chocolate buttons at bedtime) as he could quite easily choke with very serious conseqences.

BELLA

BELLA was just 11 months old when she was surrendered into our care. Due to the lack of socialisation and training of her as a young puppy it became obvious to us from the beginning that this precious little girl was going to need a family with experience of the breed and lots of time, patience and willingness to help her with the rehabilitation process that we had already started. We were looking for a very specific family that could make her the happy little dog we knew she could and wanted to be.

Two months after we first met BELLA she embarked on a home trial with a very special couple who had helped their previous Staffordshire Bull Terrier through similar behavioural issues that BELLA had aquired and we were confident that they could make things work. Through sheer hard work and determination BELLA's new family helped her through some difficult times and although her rehabiliation would be an ongoing process they decided that they wanted to offer her a forever home where she could flourish even more.

BELLA is now living a life of happiness, full of new experiences, lots of exercise and mental stimulation, and is a very much loved member of her new family.

MILLIE

This sweet, gentle and totally adorable little girl was surrendered into our care by her family who were heartbroken to have to say goodbye to her but through ill health they really did not have a choice.

MILLIE settled into foster care very quickly and loved her trips to the secret beach as well as her cuddles on the sofa. MILLIE had been brought up with grandchildren around her and we knew that she would make a lovely pet for a family with children themselves so we were delighted when one of our families who had been waiting patiently for a little Staffie like MILLIE said that they would love to meet here.

MILLIE went on a home a trial and was adopted two weeks later. She now has a loving family and enjoys playing with the children. MILLIE's family say that it is as though she has always been there.

What a lovely ending for everyone involved, especially MILLIE who now has a new lease of life.

ANNIE

ANNIE is 5 years of age. She is a most loving, sweet, gentle and biddable little girl who is looking for a home where she will be the only pet and where she will receive all of the love and attention she so rightly deserves.

ANNIE had a terrible life up until she came into our care. The deep scars that she has (especially around her neck area) are evidence of that. She has also had more than her fair share of litters in the past and the sagginess on her undercarriage will always be there. Despite having lived a very difficult life, ANNIE hasn't got a bad bone in her body.

ANNIE is a breeze to look after. She is very obedient and is quite happy to ly in her bed quietly whilst watching and listening to people potter around her. She is also very affectionate and loves her cuddles and kisses.

ANNIE is not phased by other dogs when she sees them out walking but has a real dislike of cats.

ANNIE walks very well on the lead and travels well in the car whilst in motion. She can occasionally get bored if left too long (the car included) and can be a little bit destructive but in a very innocent way - by accident almost. She is very funny with her little ways like stamping her paws at dinner time and looking at you in the most loving way. ANNIE is also a snorer but this makes her even more attractive and lovable.

ANNIE can be a bit of a coach potato but she also loves her walks and definitely perks up when it is time to head out. One walk in the morning and one walk in the evening would be all ANNIE needs to keep her happy.

We have no knowledge of ANNIE having lived with children, so we are only able to re-home her with an adult family with no prospect of little ones in the future.

ANNIE would be the ideal pet for an adult family that just want a dog to love and have fun with, who is easy going and a joy to be around.

We cannot deny that there is a little English Bulldog in ANNIE's make up but we think that this makes her even more adorable.

PEGGIE

8 year young PEGGIE, a sweet, gentle, loving little girl came to us from Belfast City Dog Pound. We were eagerly waiting for her release date so that we could collect her and tuck her under our wings. Unbeknown to us at the time, one of our long term supporters had also been following her story.

PEGGIE was placed in foster care so that we could assess her to determine what kind of family would suit her best when we received a phone call from Carol. We knew almost straight away that it would be a perfect match and were delighted that someone that we knew and trusted so well wanted to offer PEGGIE a secure and loving home.

It was love at first sight between both Carol and PEGGIE - the two formed an instant bond. This precious little girl can now look forward to spending her Autumn and Winter years surrounded by love and special attention. We could not have wished for a better home for PEGGIE and know that the two of them will provide each other with lots of lovely memories and happiness for years to come.

NELLIE

5 year old NELLIE was found straying on the streets of Belfast and was forced to spend her time in the city's Dog Pound. The kennel staff there had contacted the person attached to her microchip who claimed they had never owned a dog so poor NELLIE was left waiting for someone to go and help her.

We scooped NELLIE up and she spent time in foster care here at NISBTR whilst she was assessed and spayed.

We were in the very fortunate position of having a family that had contacted us several months prior to NELLIE's arrival who were looking for a Stafford just like her to join their family. They instantly fell in love with her and NELLIE's future changed forever when they put her in their car and drove her all the way to Enniskillen to start her new and happy life as a much loved pet. Never again will NELLIE be abandoned and left alone in a Dog Pound.

RUBY

6 year old RUBY was a welfare case. She had been removed from her home by welfare officers due to her untold suffering and placed in their care until she could be released several weeks later after investigations had been concluded.

NISBTR were delighted to be able to collect RUBY from kennels on the same day she could be freed and this precious little girl spent time with us whilst we continued to make her better.

RUBY's beautiful face and incredibly sad story captured the hearts of a family who had recently been bereaved of their beloved Stafford. They were looking for a dog just like RUBY to help fill the void in their lives.

RUBY settled into her new home in no time at all and we are so happy to know that RUBY is now in the best hands she could possibly be and can now look forward to a life where she will never be in pain and suffer again.

ELSA

Little ELSA was found abandoned in a wooded area in Co Offaly along with two other Staffordshire Bull Terriers. During her time in foster care under the umbrella of the SPCA it became apparent that ELSA loved the company of all kinds of dogs - young, old, small, medium and large.

When she arrived at NISBTR she was placed in loving foster care whilst we searched for a family who had at least one other dog. Everyone's (including ELSA's) dreams came true when a family came forward who dearly wanted to add a SBT to their pack.

ELSA is now living a life without restrictions and enjoying lots of rural walking in a very beautiful part of Belfast. She now has a very secure and happy future ahead of her.

SASHA

After spending almost 12 months in the loving care of her foster family SASHA finally found the home she has always been looking for. It had been one year of rehabilitation for this little girl who was lacking so much self-esteem when she arrived at NISBTR that she would hide herself away and was frightened of anything and everything. But, with the right encouragement and home environment SASHA has blossomed into a much more confident dog and her fun-loving personality now shines through.

Our patience was rewarded when we found a family who could easily see what a wonderful Staffordshire Bull Terrier she is and how much love she has to offer. The family are committed to continue with her confidence building and to give her the loving home she so rightly deserves.

Every dog that NISBTR rescues is a success story, but SASHA even more so - it is amazing what kindness, understanding and love can do.

SPUD

After spending almost 5 months in rescue our one and only SPUD finally found the family of his dreams. Commando SPUD can now look forward to taking part in lots of activities like fishing and kayaking because his family enjoy spending so much of their time in the great outdoors.

SPUD will be very much missed by lots of people - he certainly made a lasting impression whilst he was here but we know we can visit him any time to catch up on his antics.

HOPE

Sadly, this extremely beautiful girl had an awful start to life but she has responded really well to the love and care she has received after she was rescued from a life of cruelty.

We were searching for a family who had experience of dogs that had been neglected in the past and who would take all of the time necessary to help HOPE lead a full, happy and secure life as a normal dog.

Thankfully, we did not have to wait long for that family to come along and we are delighted to say that HOPE is now living with an amazing family (that includes a senior Stafford) who are all doing a great job of rehabilitating her.

HOPE can now look forward to a life of happiness and joy and will never be let down by anyone again.

ELLA

This gorgeous girl with a beaming Staffie smile came to us from Lisburn Dog Pound. She had been found abandoned outside an ice skating rink and had to serve her time in the pound before NISBTR could take her.

ELLA was placed in foster care with our life long supporters Lisa, Tom and Buster the Stafford. The whole family fell completely in love with ELLA and she has now become a family member too.

Things could not have worked out better for ELLA...no more puppies, no more abandonment and no more neglect. This beautiful little girl can now look forward to a life of being treasured and adored.

REGGIE

Aged just 18 months old, REGGIE found himself down on his luck and was picked up as a stray. With no collar and tag or microchip, REGGIE had to face spending his time in a Council Dog Pound waiting patiently for his owner to collect him. That day never came, so NISBTR was there to pick up the pieces of this shy and withdrawn little dog.

Whilst REGGIE was in foster care, one of our friends and supporters saw his photos and called to say that they would love to meet him with the prospect of offering him a permanent home.

We are so happy that REGGIE has not only found himself a wonderful home for the rest of his life, he also has another NISBTR dog as a canine sister to keep him company.

Things could not have worked out better for this adorable boy - he will never be let down again.

PEARL

11 year young PEARL came to us in January 2015 after spending almost a month in Craigavon Dog Pound. Picked up as a stray and traced back to her former owners, this precious little girl was left to languish in the pound with a very uncertain future.

Since then PEARL has been in a very loving foster home with a family who had fostered for us before. After almost a year, it has been decided that PEARL will be a long term foster and will remain with the family for the rest of her life. We all feel that this is the best outcome for everyone but especially PEARL herself, and we are delighted that her rescue journey has come to an end and that she has found such a wonderful, permanent home where she is very much loved and cherished.

LOLA

16 month old LOLA (formerly MISSY) came into rescue after her owner had been admitted to hospital and no-one in the family could offer her sanctuary.

LOLA was placed in a loving foster home for a few short days before she was introduced to a family who has been waiting patiently for the right rescue Stafford to come along.

This totally beautiful, sweet and very loving little girl now has a secure future and will never have to worry about anything again.

HUGO

15 month old HUGO (formerly WOODY) was picked up as a stray in Holywood, Co Down and spent several weeks 'doing the rounds' on Facebook in a vain attempt to find his original owner/s..

Despite the fact that all dog owners are required to have their dog/s micro-chipped here in Northern Ireland, whoever owned HUGO had failed to be responsible and law abiding which meant that HUGO had to serve his time in a Dog Pound before he could be released to NISBTR.

HUGO has been adopted by a wonderful lady who had recently been bereaved of her beloved SBT. HUGO is quite simply her life - she totally adores him (and vice versa) and they go everywhere together.

We know that HUGO will bring many, many years of happiness to his lady owner and look forward to seeing this gorgeous boy grow up.

DINO

3 year old DINO came to us from Grahams Re-homing Centre in Castlerock, Co Antrim. He was an unwanted stray. This gentle, loving Stafford was placed in foster care and fitted in so well with the family he decided to stay.

We knew that it was going to take a very special dog to fill the void that the family's previous Stafford left when he sadly passed away but that is exactly what DINO is - a very special dog.

DINO can now look forward to a life of true happiness and contentment - he will never again be abandoned.

MAC

3 year old MAC was surrendered to NISBTR after his previous owner could no longer keep him. This stunning boy was with us for three weeks before a wonderful family contacted us and expressed an interest in offering him a forever home. After several weeks of 'meet and greets' with their own dog and a two week home trial, MAC's rescue journey came to an end.

MAC is now part of a family where he is one of two rescue dogs and his future has changed from uncertain to safe and happy.

BALLOO

BALLOO came to us from Belfast City Dog Pound. He had been picked up by the Dog Warden and his previous owner was contacted but they had no interest in taking him back. BALLOO's future, like so many abandoned dogs, was very uncertain.

This totally adorable, reliable and loving senior Stafford spent a few short weeks at rescue until he had recovered from kennel cough and had been thoroughly assessed.

NISBTR had the perfect family in mind for him. The usual 'meet and greets' went ahead and things went extremely well - so well, that the family did not have to wait for the duration of the home trial to decide that he was definitely the dog for them.

BALLOO can now look forward to a life of love and security and will never, ever find himself on the streets again thanks to his new family.

SADIE

8 month old SADIE was another victim of a relationship breakdown. With no-where to go, her previous owner had no choice but to give her up.

NISBTR knew of a wonderful family who had been seriously thinking of re-homing a rescue Stafford for quite some time, so introductions and walks took place over a period of a few weeks. Everything went so well that the family decided to offer SADIE a permanent home where she will remain forever.

SCOUT

8 month old SCOUT was one of two Staffords from the same litter that were welfare cases. Both pups were in a terribly neglected condition when they arrived at rescue. Their tummies were full of worms, they were less than half their expected weight and both had severe demodectic mange covering much of their tiny bodies. They were both given immediate medical treatment and placed in a loving foster home to begin their gradual nursing back to health.

Shortly after they arrived we were contacted by two sisters who expressed an interest in offering a forever home to both pups although they would live separately in different homes.

Things could not have worked out better for SCOUT and her canine brother HECTOR. Both pups see each other regularly and are being given the kind of love and life that they so rightly deserve...free from pain and suffering.

HECTOR

8 month old HECTOR was one of two Staffords from the same litter that were welfare cases. Both pups were in a terribly neglected condition when they arrived at rescue. Their tummies were full of worms, they were less than half their expected weight and both had severe demodectic mange covering much of their tiny bodies. They were both given immediate medical treatment and placed in a loving foster home to begin their gradual nursing back to health.

Shortly after they arrived we were contacted by two sisters who expressed an interest in offering a forever home to both pups although they would live separately in different homes.

Things could not have worked out better for HECTOR and his canine sister SCOUT. Both pups see each other regularly and are being given the kind of love and life that they so rightly deserve...free from pain and suffering.

BARNEY

7 year young BARNEY has found his forever home. This totally adorable boy stole everyone's heart when he came into rescue with severe sarcoptic mange and after losing a leg in a road accident a year before. It would seem that he had had a very traumatic twelve months.

It wasn't long before a family who held him very close to their hearts offered BARNEY a home. He is now a very happy Stafford, receiving all of the love and attention he so rightly deserves, and he has a canine sister too.

Everyone at NISBTR was routing for BARNEY and we are delighted that his rescue journey has come to an end.

WALLY

5 year old WALLY was surrendered to NISBTR by his original owner. When he arrived, WALLY was very overweight due to lack of exercise. He was placed on a very strict diet and introduced to a new fitness regime.

Now that WALLY has found his forever home he is the picture of health and happiness. This big, friendly, lovable Staffordshire Bull Terrier was adopted by a wonderful family and now has a canine sister too.

STELLA

Sadly, STELLA's previous owner found himself homeless and had no choice but to surrender his beloved pet to NISBTR.

STELLA's rescue journey has been a long one, mainly because we felt that despite the fact that she got along with most dogs, she would be far happier as an only pet. The majority of people who adopt dogs already have at least one other rescue dog, so we had to wait for a family who were 'dog less' to come along. Our patience paid off when we received a call from a couple who had recently been bereaved of their beloved pet.

STELLA is now receiving all of the attention and love that she so rightly deserves.

HARPER

HARPER was approximately 3 years of age when she came to us from Graham's Re-homing Centre on the north coast.Clearly, this very petite and pretty little girl had not had the best start in life. Her two front paws were deformed and it was obvious to us that she had been used to breed at least one litter of pups.

HARPER was placed into a loving foster home whilst we searched for the perfect home for her and although it took several months, we finally found a family who would love this sweet, adorable and most worthy rescue dog.

HARPER will never again be abandoned and let down in the way she has been in the past and can look forward to a very secure and happy future.

PATCH

PATCH was given away as a pup but things didn't work out for this lovable boy. Aged 18 months, PATCH was surrendered to NISBTR by his original owner.

All of our rescue Staffords have individual needs. A small minority are best suited to homes where they are the only dog. However, PATCH was one of the majority and just loved the company of all dogs; young, old, male, female, big, small.

Within days of PATCH being fully assessed, and with the knowledge that he was such a sociable boy, we received a phone call from a family who had fallen in love with his photos and profile.

PATCH didn't let his new family down whilst on a home trial and has proven to be a loving and reliable SBT. He is now enjoying lots of long walks and lots of attention (things he rarely had before), and even has a canine sister to keep him company too.

Thanks to everyone involved, this was another happy ending for a wonderful, precious dog whose future life would have been a very daunting prospect without the intervention of NISBTR.

BUSTER

12 month old BUSTER was down on his luck when he found himself in Pennyburn Dog Pound after being picked up as a stray. He spent three months in our care before we were contacted by a wonderful family who were sure they could offer him the perfect home.

BUSTER is a very happy-go-lucky boy whose luck has changed forever. He has everything he needs (and more) in his new home and is a very much loved addition to the family.

JASMINE

JASMINE was just a few months old when she was surrendered to NISBTR.

Another victim of clueless individuals who think that it is acceptable to take on the responsibility of a puppy without thinking past the first few months, let alone years.

Puppies need training, nurturing, time, patience, exercise, financial support, good food, love and equally important, responsible owners who have a real understanding of what bringing a dog into their home means - which is a life long commitment.

Thankfully, NISBTR had been in contact with a family who could provide all of the above and we are delighted to announce that little JASMINE has been adopted. This precious little girl can now look forward to a secure, happy and healthy future

STANLEY

STANLEY spent much of time outside without adequate food, water or shelter and was eventually surrendered to Lisburn Dog Pound. Once he was in our care, STANLEY soon learned that not all humans are bad and responded well to the creature comforts that surrounded him.

This totally loving and trustworthy boy spent almost 3 months under our wing before he went on a home trial with a family who were hoping to offer home a permanent home.

We are delighted to say that STANLEY has now been adopted and his rescue journey has come to an end. He has a loving family including a human brother called Luke, aged 10. They have formed a very close bond and STANLEY now has a new 'best friend'.

STANLEY now has his very own house and garden that he can play in, and will never be left alone for days on end in without any company.

SKY

SKY was just 14 months of age when she came into NISBTR along with her mother LOLA. It didn't take long for her to settle down in her foster home and it came as no surprise to us when we received the phone call from her foster family three weeks after she had arrived that they would love to offer this precious little girl a forever home.

SKY is now part of a very loving family and even has two canine brothers too; a Pug called Finn and a Beagle called Charlie. This lucky little girl has certainly fallen on her paws.

LOLA

Two and a half year old LOLA came to us with her 14 month old daughter SKY. Although they had been living together, it was apparent that they both had individual needs.

LOLA lacked a certain confidence due to the bad start she had in life, so NISBTR worked on building that confidence up and assessing her in a home environment. It wasn't long before we realised that she would be the perfect pet for a family that had been waiting for a dog just like her.

Introductions were arranged and this beautiful, placid and totally loving Stafford embarked on a two week home trial. It was love at first sight for both LOLA and her potentially new family and just a week or so into her home trial we received the wonderful news that LOLA had found her forever home.

LOLA

Little Lola is the youngest of all the dogs that have found their way into rescue. This adorable pup was aged just 9 weeks when she was surrendered to us because she and the other dog in the household weren't getting on. Lola was taken into foster care and was adopted by her foster family just a few weeks later. She has since been joined by Daisy, another one of our rescue dogs.

JIMMY

After spending several weeks recovering from kennel cough and a chest infection, JIMMY was finally introduced to the other five dogs in his foster home. He settled in so well that his foster carer was very reluctant to let him go.

JIMMY has gone from being abandoned and alone to being very much loved and part of a big family made up of two Akita, a Greyhound, two cross breeds and one very, very compassionate lady.