This loveable lurcher has been dubbed the ‘loneliest dog’ in Bolton after spending 901 days waiting for a ‘forever’ home.

Eight-year-old Sam has been in the Destitute Animal Shelter since February 2017 and remains its longest-serving resident.

Playful Sam is adored by staff who are desperately trying to find a home for the pooch, who was first rescued in 2014 and became a permanent fixture at the shelter since February 2017 when his last owner died six months after adopting him.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Shelter manager Karen Rickards said: “Sam has been so unlucky, and it’s through no fault of his own.

“His last owner died in 2017 - which was his third brief attempt at being re-homed - he was there for six months and he’s been here ever since.

“It’s never anything Sam’s done, he’s just constantly found himself in the wrong home at the wrong time.

“He’s currently our longest-serving resident. And yet he’s playful, gentle and absolutely loves people.

“We need to find someone who can take care of him. He deserves nothing less than an amazing home.”

There are currently 12 cats and 20 dogs all looking for new homes at the shelter which recently announced a new charity partnership with local energy switching firm, Love Energy Savings.

Joining Sam in the ‘unlucky’ stakes is Blake (pictured below), a seven-year-old Greyhound, who was badly attacked by another dog in autumn last year and narrowly avoided death.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Karen added: “It’s a miracle Blake is still with us.

“His owner took him to the vets and asked for him to be put down after he was attacked by another dog, as they couldn’t afford the vet’s fees to patch him back up. His wounds were horrific.

“Thankfully the vet rang us and suggested that if they operated on him for free, we could take him in and re-home him. Of course, we said yes."

For more information and details about the adoption process visit the shelter’s Facebook page or call 01204 526 486.