TEARFUL animal shelter staff and volunteers formed a guard of honour to say goodbye to a long term resident who finally found his forever home.
Taz has lived at Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelter, Newland, near Malvern, struggling to find a new family to take care of him.
Staff believe the Akita cross's size put a lot of people off adopting him after he came into the shelter as a stray in January 2015.
He had spent so long at the shelter he had begun to think of it as "home" so had to have a month-long fostering to help him settle.
To say a final goodbye to the long term resident, they held a leaving party, holding a guard of honour and tying cans and a sign saying "Just Rehomed" to the car set to take him away.
Claire Tregunna, shelter manager, said: "Taz came into the shelter as a stray in January 2015.
"Being an Akita cross he is was a big boy which sadly put a lot of people off offering him a new home.
"People did not get a chance to see what a loving boy he really is.
"He showed himself to be a bit of a clown, enjoying nothing more than running around with a football, occasionally throwing it in the air of over the fence.
"After a few tentative interests a perfect family came along who wanted him to join their family.
"He got on brilliantly with their other dog and went out on a month long foster to get acquainted with his new home, due to him thinking of the shelter as his home.
"He settled in well and his new family fell in love with him instantly."
There was not a dry eye in the shelter as he made his final trip to start his new life but everyone was happy Taz would be getting a fresh start.
"Taz and his new family were joined by staff and volunteers, all wanted to say a sad but happy farewell to him and wish him well in his new home.
"There was tea, biscuits, cake and barely a dry eye in the house.
"Occasionally WARS do have dogs and cats who take a little longer to rehome.
"We don’t give up on these animals and do all we can to find them their forever home."
She added that long term animals like Taz can cost the charity thousands of pounds in food and board, as well as vet fees.
Anyone wishing to donate should text WARS42 followed by the amount (£1-£10 etc) to 70070 or go to justgiving.com/wars.
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