Essex Dog Seeks Home, Overlooked Due to Size, Nearing 1000 Days

There’s this dog named Hank. He’s been at Dogs Trust in Basildon almost his entire life, and he’s a really sweet dog searching for a home. He even had his third birthday on Valentine’s Day. Hank came to Dogs Trust when he was only a puppy.

The staff all love Hank a lot. Still, he lived there for over 900 days, while most dogs stay there just around 60 days. Hank saw many dogs adopted while he had to stay.

Big dogs sometimes wait longer for homes. Staff hope Hank finds a family soon and they want owners who will care for and love him.

Hank is a “giant” dog, meaning he weighs over 45 kg. But, he acts like a small dog and loves sitting on sofas like a lap dog.

He lives alone in a double kennel due to his large size. Hank needs an adult home in the country and a safe garden for training. He already knows many basic commands.

Hank loves playing with his toys and likes soft toys best. He throws them and then chases them around. He is very smart and knows “sit,” “down,” “touch,” and “bed.” He also comes when called.

Because he lived in kennels, the world can scare Hank. He needs owners who will help him adjust and teach him how to live in a home.

Lisa Cooper is manager at Dogs Trust Basildon. She said big dogs like Hank struggle to find homes because caring for them can cost more, with food and insurance costing more too.

Lisa added that big dogs have great personalities and so much love to offer. Don’t ignore them just because they are big. As Hank nears 1000 days at Dogs Trust, she hopes he and other big dogs find homes.