Ronnie and Patch had spent the first six years of their lives living inside a house in the north of England with around 50 other dogs and had never been stroked, worn a collar or gone on a walk.

Dedicated staff at the RSPCA’s Lancashire East Branch have spent months patiently working with the nervous dogs to help them overcome their fear of people and the outside world, since they arrived at the centre in Huncoat near Accrington in March 2022.

Ronnie has also had a significant amount of dental work carried out and most of his teeth have been removed.

Sadly, despite several appeals, the canine companions - who find solace in each and must be rehomed together - have yet to find their perfect match and they are now the longest-staying residents at the Lancashire East Branch’s animal centre.