Sadie, a collie cross rescued from a property where she lived with 200 other dogs, has found a new home after nearly three years in RSPCA kennels. The five-year-old dog was taken in by the RSPCA after being discovered in unsuitable outdoor conditions in Cornwall. Due to legal processes, she could not be rehomed immediately, leading to her extensive stay at the facility, where staff referred to her as "Britain's loneliest dog."
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To increase her chances of adoption, the RSPCA shared daily videos of Sadie on social media. On the 83rd day of this campaign, Mabel Edge from Westward Ho! in Devon saw one of the clips and decided to adopt her. Edge expressed her initial reaction, saying, "When I first saw the clips of her, I was taken by how sweet she seemed and couldn't believe she'd been waiting for a home for so long."
After discussing with her partner Al, they visited Sadie at the RSPCA center four times before bringing her home. Edge acknowledged the need for patience and understanding due to Sadie's troubled past, but was pleasantly surprised by her progress during their visits.
On the drive home, Sadie chose to sit in the footwell of their campervan instead of the bed prepared for her, marking a pivotal moment in their bond. Edge noted that from then on, it felt like Sadie had been a part of their family forever.
The previous owner of Sadie has received a jail sentence and is banned from owning dogs for life, as confirmed by the RSPCA. The organization also highlighted the increasing number of multi-animal cases in England and Wales, reporting 3,280 incidents this year. In 2025, they responded to over 4,200 cases involving ten or more animals at a single address, impacting 88,000 animals.