Dogsey

An abandoned dog that has spent the past nine years in a shelter will finally have Christmas with a family – thanks to the Daily Mirror.

Lonely corgi-collie cross Sophie had been facing a 10th festive period cooped up in kennels, but after we revealed her plight the centre was inundated with calls from people wanting to take her home.

And Irene and Ken Duffy are the new owners of the 11-year-old pooch, who was abandoned at the age of two, after *immediately falling in love with her when they spotted her picture.

Irene, 70, said: “When we both saw her little face in the paper we said, ‘Oh we will have her.’ We knew as soon as we saw her we wanted to bring her home with us.

“Sophie is quiet but a real charmer. She has already found a little place she likes to sit under the stairs and is getting used to cosying up in front of the fire place.

"We feel very lucky to have welcomed her into our family, she’s a little Christmas miracle.”

The retired couple made the trip from their home in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, to the Hilbrae Kennels at Telford, Shrops, to pick up Sophie.

The pair already have a nine-year-old Jack Russell called Toby.

They spent two days with Sophie while a senior dog handler assessed them before deciding they were a perfect match.

Irene added: “We used to have a Lurcher, who was also called Sophie, but she died about five months ago so I’m glad that Toby has got a new friend.”

Kennel staff feared their longest-running resident would never leave after she was constantly overlooked by visitors for more fashionable or younger dogs – until we told of her situation.

Supervisor Claudia Churchill said: “We were all sad to say goodbye to Sophie after so many years, I was in tears, but it’s the best thing for her.

“The morning she was pictured in the paper the phone never stopped ringing. People were desperate to come and meet her.

"But her new owners are a perfect fit and all being well, she’ll have a loving family for the rest of her life.

“I can’t believe she’s finally got a home in time for Christmas. It’s the best present.”