A south east London dog charity has been inundated with applications to rehome a puppy that some are saying looks just like Scooby-Doo.
Pro Dogs Direct is home to Ian, a puppy aged 10-weeks-old who was born to another of the puppies in the rescue, Pixie.
Ian, a Scooby-Doo lookalike, is “friendly and social and loves everyone he meets”.
A photo of the crossbreed pup was shared on Facebook on February 1 – and it has already received more than 240 comments, with several saying he resembles the 1969 cartoon character – Scooby-Doo.
One said “that’s not Ian. That’s Scooby,” while another said “his name should be scrappy do! Although I kinda love Ian…”.
Ian is currently being fostered in Essex and is looking for a home with owners prepared for the responsibility of having a puppy with the time to commit to his training.
Ian is in good health and can potentially be homed with other dogs, cats, and children when properly socialised.
On its website, Pro Dogs Direct warns of the work and commitment that comes with having a young puppy and urges would-be adopters to consider this before applying.
The statement read: “Please think about what they need before you apply, they will need time and dedication, training, and lots and lots of your time.
“New owners will need to be around for a good part of the day and be sure they can meet the pups needs”.
As Ian is a puppy, he will need to be introduced to new surroundings and will need to be housetrained by his new owner.
It is also advised that because Ian has been accustomed to sleeping with his siblings at night, new owners should be prepared for “sleepless nights and poop parties” as the young pup settles into his new home.
A spokesperson for Pro Dogs Direct told the News Shopper that although there is not an exact figure, estimates are that he’s had at 100 applications in the last 24 hours.
Pro Dogs Direct rescues and rehomes dogs across London and south east England with fosterers based remotely across these locations.
The charity told News Shopper that they receive hundreds of applications for puppies in their care but are concerned that some may not understand the responsibility of having a dog.
Research from The Kennel Club revealed that a quarter of new dog owners admitted to buying a puppy during the Covid-19 pandemic with little research.
A further one in five dog owners also said that they hadn’t “fully considered” the long-term commitment and responsibility of owning a dog.
Charity trustee, Donna Woodford said: “It's important for people to think carefully before they apply.
“We need to stop the trend of people falling in love with a picture without thinking about the downsides of owning a pup.
“They pee, they pooh, they chew on you and your furniture, they keep you awake at night, and it takes a lot of time, patience and know how to make sure they grow up into a well-rounded dog”.
Ian is currently available for adoption along with many other dogs of all ages on the Pro Dogs Direct website.
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