A DOG has found a loving home after spending nearly a year in the kennels.

Two-year-old crossbreed Rico spent Christmas and New Year 2016 being looked after by the Dogs Trust, but now the pooch has found a 'forever home' with a loving family in Bewsey.

Arriving at the Dogs Trust Merseyside in November 2016, Rico saw hundreds of his canine companions find families before he was finally able to leave the kennels almost a year later.

When Dave and Petrina O'Gorman visited the charity's Huyton Rehoming Centre, Rico instantly became friends with their dog Pebbles - a deaf dalmatian.

Dave said: "We are delighted we've been able to give Rico his forever home.

"We have always had two dogs and our black Labrador, Dylan, died at the age of 14 in September.

"Our dalmatian, Pebbles, is deaf and had been best buddies with Dylan for seven years.

"She really missed him and became very down in the dumps after he died, so we headed to the Dogs Trust to find her another friend.

"Rico is absolutely wonderful and has given Pebbles a new lease of life - he is really playful and when we're out and about they love running around together.

"We're so pleased that he's starting 2018 with us and we're looking forward to many more years with him as part of our family."

And the new pairing of Rico and Pebbles has had tails wagging.

Georgina Lowery, manager at Dogs Trust Merseyside, added: "Dave and Petrina, along with Pebbles, were the perfect family for Rico and after he'd been waiting so long it was wonderful to see him head home.

"His and Pebbles' tails didn't stop wagging every time they were together and I'm sure that has been the case ever since."