If you are looking for a new friend of the four-legged variety why not consider giving one of these pups their forever home?

If you're considering welcoming a pet into your family, instead of buying a puppy from a breeder, why not consider rehoming an animal from the RSPCA instead?

All of their dogs and cats come spayed or snipped, vaccinated and microchipped - so that's a few less things to worry about.

Elsie

Breed: Lurcher crossbreed

Colour: Black

Age: 5 Years (approximately)

Location: West Hatch Animal Centre

Somerset County Gazette: Elsie the lurcher cross is looking for her forever home. Picture credit: RSPCAElsie the lurcher cross is looking for her forever home. Picture credit: RSPCA

Elsie is a beautiful 5-year-old Lurcher. She loves cuddles, is housetrained, travels well in a car and absolutely loves to play ball. She adores snuggling in her comfortable bed, and absolutely hates the rain.

Sadly Elsie came from a home where she was kept outside, alone, when she wasn't being used for hunting.

Because of her previous life, she has a very strong prey drive, and can become reactive when she encounters other animals but staff have been working hard on her behaviour plan - teaching her to focus on them so when she sees other dogs coming towards her on a walk she can now focus on her handler rather than reacting immediately.

She has made great progress, but still has a long way to go, so Elsie needs a home where her new family are prepared to carry on with this training.

She needs a home with teenagers or adults, without other animals and needs a secure, peaceful garden area without neighbouring dogs.

Lacie

Breed: Lurcher crossbreed

Colour: Brindle

Age: 1 Year (approximately)

Location: West Hatch Animal Centre

Somerset County Gazette: Lacie the lurcher cross is looking for her forever home. Picture credit: RSPCALacie the lurcher cross is looking for her forever home. Picture credit: RSPCA

Lacie was found abandoned, tied up outside a house of a member of staff, cold and emaciated, with sores on her body.

After lots of care and veterinary attention and a good diet, she is now fully recovered, and is looking for a new home to call her own.

Lacie is looking for a home with someone home most of the time to house train her and teach that it is ok to be left for short periods. She would be suitable to live with older teenagers, used to reactive dogs, but not cats or small animals due to her high prey drive.

Potential adopters must live within a reasonable distance of Taunton as Lacie will need to meet her new family several times to get to know them.

Lacie is very reactive to everything out and about, which is being worked on, so she is looking for an understanding, patient home, with someone experienced with challenging dogs.

Klaus

Breed: German Shepherd

Colour: Black & Tan

Age: 3-6 Months

Location: Brent Knoll Animal Centre

Somerset County Gazette: Klaus the German Shepherd is looking for his forever home. Picture credit: RSPCAKlaus the German Shepherd is looking for his forever home. Picture credit: RSPCA

Klaus has had a less than ideal start in life, this has cause unwanted behaviours to develop. If you have owned and trained/retrained a young dog in the past, then he may be just the chap for you!

Prior to his arrival, he had been passed between at least three different homes. On arrival he was emaciated and his coat incredibly dull. He was bright and full of beans but certainly didn’t appear as you would expect a pup of his age.

Klaus is cute as a button but is a growing and will potentially become a strong dog. Although tempting to give allowance to his past in relation to some of the undesirable behaviours observed by the rescue centre, now is a golden opportunity to rebalance those experiences before they become fully established as part of his approach to life.

Shadow

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossbreed

Colour: Tan & White

Age: 8 Years (approximately)

Location: Brent Knoll Animal Centre

Somerset County Gazette: Shadow the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross is looking for his forever home. Picture credit: RSPCAShadow the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross is looking for his forever home. Picture credit: RSPCA

Shadow came into RSPCA care via an inspector as his previous owners were  unable to provide the care he required due to their ill health.

He previously had regular contact with children 11 years old and up who he was said to get along fine with.

He doesn’t like other dogs and wears a muzzle when out and about. He is used to both men and women and is timid but friendly once he knows you.

Although said to be okay during grooming he doesn’t like water and can be grabby when playing with toys.

He is house trained and doesn't have a history of being destructive.