Sometimes, the larger the dog, the larger the task of finding them a new home. This is the case with Loki, a Northern Inuit cross who has found himself in Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s care through no fault of his own. Covered in thick, grey fur, with striking blue eyes, and standing at over a metre tall, Loki looks as if he might have just wandered off the set of Game of Thrones.
However, despite his close resemblance to a wolf, Loki is actually a gentle giant who love people. He is finding life at Battersea’s London shelter trying, as he has been used to an outdoor life, and finding him a suitable home is becoming more pressing. Staff are eager to find Loki a new family, but they know they have their work cut out for them, since his new owner will need to be experienced and have access to a significant outdoor space.
Battersea’s Rehoming and Welfare Manager Becky Fisher said: “We’re sure this stunning boy is going to attract a lot of attention, but Loki’s looking for a very particular type of home. He’ll need a house with a big garden where he can run around to his heart’s content. Ideally, we’d like to see him find a rural home away from the noise of the big city, as he finds the hustle and bustle of London kennels very stressful. Loki’s also going to need a home with people who are experienced with Husky, Akitas or Northern Inuit type breeds. But he’s a big softy - he loves people and could happily live with teenagers.”
Loki arrived at Battersea a week ago due to his owner’s circumstances having changed, rendering them unable to meet Loki’s needs anymore. Northern Inuits are rare at the centre, but sadly large wolf-like breeds are increasingly finding themselves in the charity’s care. In the last year alone, Battersea has taken in more than 70 such dogs, including Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies, arrive at the centre. Unfortunately, these “snow dogs” take on average 50% longer than other breeds to rehome and tend to struggle in a kennel environment, due to their size and high energy levels.
Becky said: “These breeds have become very popular in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones. But sadly, a lot of people buy these dogs because they’re beautiful looking, without doing enough research into the breed. These dogs can make wonderful pets but they’re a lot of work. They need space to run around and they’re very active, intelligent canines that need a lot of physical and mental stimulation.”
Becky said Battersea’s staff are hoping Loki will have bright future ahead of him.
“We’re hoping someone with the space, time and experience will come forward to give Loki the home he deserves. He’s a beautiful natured, gentle dog and he’s going to make an amazing addition to the right family.”
If you think you can offer Battersea’s resident ‘wolf-dog’ the home he needs, please get in touch with us on 0843 509 4444 or email rehoming@battersea.org.uk.