Meet Val, the “loving” dog named after Saint Valentine who is yet to find love after almost a year in kennels.
This two-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois was admitted to Dogs Trust with her six puppies in March 2024 and proved to be “fantastic mum”. But as her pups found their forever homes, Val found herself alone and waiting for someone to love.
Now staff at Dogs Trust Darlington are hoping that Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to play Cupid and find true love for Val
Staff say that gorgeous Val is intelligent, loving and playful, but despite her big, boisterous appearance, she can be worried in new situations and with people she doesn’t know.
The charity says that while most dogs are in its care for around 60 days before being adopted, large dogs like Val, on average, take longer to rehome than small and medium-sized dogs. The charity currently has over 400 large dogs in its care and last year, around 20% of all dogs handed over to Dogs Trust were large or giant.
Beverley Watson, Assistant Manager at Dogs Trust Darlington, said: “All dogs want to love and be loved, and that is certainly the case for Val, who has a wonderful loving nature. Val can find new faces and situations a little worrying; however, our dedicated training team has worked hard to ease her worries, and we have watched her grow in confidence.
“She has formed great relationships with her carers, and her friendship circle is widening as she’s recently made friends with some of our volunteers. Val adores spending time with people, either snuggling on the sofa or enjoying enriching activities. She’s very smart and loves working her mind with games and training, fetch being a firm favourite.
“Sadly, large dogs are often harder to rehome, but anyone who has owned a large dog before knows they often have the biggest personalities, like Val. Without a doubt, she will bring a lot of joy, loyalty and love into the life of her new owner, and we hope she meets her soulmate this Valentine’s Day.”
Val is looking for an adult-only home in a quiet location. She loves peaceful walks in the countryside and requires patient and kind owners who will allow her time to settle when she finds her perfect love nest.
Watch Val’s video here, or to see all the dogs waiting on their special someone at Dogs Trust Darlington, click here.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dog-named-after-saint-valentine-31003728
