A lurcher dubbed “Britain’s loneliest dog” has finally found a “forever” home.

Two-year-old Hector had been in a shelter since he was rescued by the RSPCA over welfare concerns in 2017.

Hundreds of people from all over the world offered to re-home him after a campaign by Little Valley Animal Shelter in Exeter, Devon, went viral. 

The lonely lurcher, who spent more than 500 days at the shelter, had been its longest-staying resident. 

“We couldn’t be happier for him,” the shelter said. “We can’t stop smiling.”

Horses are being left to die by irresponsible owners who are regularly fly-tipping the animal says the RSPCA.

Chief inspector at the charity, Sam Garvey has said she has seen horses being sold online for as cheap as £25 and some were even being sold for free, saying it was ‘buy the mare, get the foal for free’.

She stated there were cases that horses were being sold for “less than kittens”.

Nearly 1,000 horses were rescued in England and Wales by the RSPCA last year. This was the highest number for four years and the charity are calling it a “horse crisis” as some owners are opting to fly-tip their horses rather than pay for veterinary care or to put the animal to sleep.

Prosecution cases involving horses have also risen by 25% since 2015.

Gavin Grant, the chief executive of the embattled RSPCA has been forced to step down from the role after two years because of fears for his health.

The animal charity said Mr Grant, who was known for his vocal criticism of hunting and the Government’s badger cull, was giving up the post with “immediate effect” because of “medical concerns”.

The charity refused to give any further details but it is understood he took the decision after medical advice.

His departure comes after one of the most tumultuous periods in the organisation’s 190-year history.

There were calls for it to be stripped of its role in prosecuting animal cruelty amid accusations that it had become too “political” in the wake of the prosecution of David Cameron’s local hunt.