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The longest resident dog at a Bury animal sanctuary has finally been rehomed after nine years

Humbug has found his forever home.

Emily Sergeant - 26th January 2024

The longest resident dog at an animal sanctuary in Bury has been successfully rehomed after nearly a decade.

Humbug has finally found his forever home… and we honestly couldn’t be happier for him.

The Akita-cross – who was described as being a “popular pooch” among the staff at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield, near Ramsbottom in Bury – was actually born at the rescue site all the way back in 2014.

He was initially rehomed along with his siblings, however ended up being returned to Bleakholt as a youngster due to being wary of strangers, and then sadly struggled to find another home as he was considered to be, in Sanctuary Manager Karen Weed’s words, “a complex little soul”.

Due to his extended kennel life, Humbug unfortunately had insecurities and phobias, so he needed ltos of training and a patient owner.

The lovable pup waited and waited, and in that time, went on to become a firm-favourite of staff and volunteer dog walkers, who he would often “shower with cuddles and smooches” once he got to know them well, and was known for being everyone’s “very best friend”.

Although Humbug was taken home at weekends by who Bleakholt called a “fantastic and devoted” foster carer to get him used to going on long walks and being within a domestic environment – which was said to have helped to “greatly improve” his confidence and behaviour – staff at the sanctuary wanted nothing more for him to “leave his heated kennel and find a heated house” for good.

And finally, that day eventually came earlier this month.

Humbug was successfully rehomed by Ken Marsh and his partner Sandra Rothwell after nine long years at Bleakholt, and he’s said to already be “settling in well”.

Explaining why they knew Humbug was the one for them, and giving a little update on how he’s settling into his new surroundings after being welcomed into their loving home, Ken said: “Humbug is my seventh dog from Bleakholt. I went to get Herbie five-and-a-half years ago, and asked for the dog that had been there longest.

“When Herbie died, I went to Bleakholt, and asked again for the one who had been there the longest, and also looked at a few others. We went home and talked about it, and then decided on Humbug.

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“It’s the longest I have ever been without a dog since I was 21-years-old, so it was good to pick him up. It’s so far so good. He has two beds, one downstairs and one upstairs, he loves his squeaky toys, and he is a slow walker – I have a 25 minute walk to the canal, but it takes me 45 minutes with Humbug.

“He has settled in well, and it’s a pleasure to have him.”

Featured Image – Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary (via Facebook)