Ruby 13wk old Cocker spaniel

Ruby is a 13 week old cocker spaniel who was handed in before Christmas after being bought on a whim by her owner, who then realised she couldn't give a spaniel what she needs.

We are taking applications for her, but we have had to restart her vaccinations due to not being able to follow on the vaccines she had previously been given, so she will still need her second vaccination and can't go outside till then.

The home we are looking for needs to be as follows:

* You need to be around most of the day, she can only be left for a couple of hours at a time.

* You need to have the time, energy and patience to train her. House training is almost there but she will need all the basic training a pup should have.

* Experience of owning a spaniel, she is a whirling dervish and not a first time puppy owners dog

* Able to afford the veterinary care, insurance and general day to day finances of owning a dog

* Someone able to commit to her for the next fifteen years of her life, so please take your age and health condition into account when applying, whilst you may be fit and active now, will that be the same in five, ten or fifteen years time?

* She is a biting, scratching bundle of endless energy, will your children, family members and other animals be able to cope with this? My older dogs are sick to death of her, she wants to play non stop, she'd love to be with another dog, but they need to be able to cope with her relentless trying to play.

* No unneutered males of any age.

* Will go with a strict neutering contract.

Now please don't think I'm being facetious giving that description, that is an honest interpretation of what we are looking for in a new home. I don't want you to see the cute puppy photo and think yes we'll apply when you haven't given it proper thought, because that happens every time we get a puppy in. We get countless applications that fall in love with a picture and I spend hours sifting through applications that are unsuitable because you haven't considered what actually taking a puppy on entails. I'm sorry if that all seems a bit blunt, but I honestly don't have the time to waste on people that aren't serious.

So if you have genuinely thought it through, and have the time, energy and patience to give this little sweetheart the best start in life, then please do fill in our application form.