Scottish SPCA

Traffic terror dog seeks special home

The Scottish SPCA is looking for an extra special home for a dog that has been returned to the charity three times because he is terrified of traffic.

Lex, a beautiful young border collie, first came in to the care of our Scottish Borders Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Mellerstain, near Gordon, in March 2009 as an unwanted pet. His owners reported that he had a bad habit of chasing cars.

He was assessed by Centre Manager, Debbie Bottomley, who concluded that his behaviour was down to his instinct to drive or herd and had been misplaced towards cars.

We worked closely with Lex and were successful in alleviating some of his stress to the point that he was happy to lie still when a car passed. 

He has since been rehomed thrice, but all his new owners brought him back after underestimating the scale of his fear.

Lex is now so terrified of cars that his anxiety levels rocket whenever a car is near him and he tries to run away and hide.

But we are determined to find a genuine, forever home for Lex with an experienced dog owner who can fully understand his anxiety and is willing and able to take on a long-term therapy programme.

Debbie said, "We are heart-broken that Lex has been let down by his previous owners, not once, but three times.

"He was already a sensitive soul when he first arrived with us but now we feel his behaviour has manifested to the point that we don't think he will ever be fully comfortable being near traffic.

"We spent a great deal of time with his previous owners informing them of Lex's problems and how to deal with them so we're extremely disappointed that things haven't worked out.

"All the toing and froing has resulted in Lex becoming extremely unsettled and insecure and we just want to find him a genuine, understanding owner who can help him manage his fears and live a full and happy life.

"He is perfect in every other way, great around the house, loves walks in the countryside and is a very loving and loveable boy.

"We're looking for an experienced collie owner who lives in a rural location where there is very little traffic.  Lex's new owner will be committed to working on his therapy programme and providing Lex with a safe, secure place to call his own.

"At the end of the day, all Lex needs is a loving owner who accepts him for who he is, a fantastic dog who is just scared of traffic."

Anyone wishing to rehome Lex should contact our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

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