A ‘clever, lovely’ bull terrier has finally found a new family after watching more than 400 of his friends get rehomed before him.

Officers from the RSPCA rescued 11-year-old Buster from a house in Edgware last year, weighing in at just 12.6 kg – half the weight he should have been.

He needed emergency veterinary treatment and his owner pleaded guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act in court last June.

Buster made a fantastic recovery and was being cared for at RSPCA Southridge in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

But after reading his story, new owner Paul Roberts from Springfield, Milton Keynes, couldn’t resist offering Buster a forever home.

He said: “When I read about Buster’s background I knew I just had to have him.

“Originally I had thought about having a smaller dog but when I saw what he went through, I thought - I just have to give him a home.

“He is a big softy, his personality is fantastic, me and him get on very well. I don’t know why no one wanted to rehome him sooner. He is a very clever, lovely dog.”

The RSPCA centre rehomed a total of 401 dogs during the time Buster was with them, leaving him overlooked for 578 days.

The average length of time a dog waits for a home at the RSPCA is 36 days.

Mr Roberts added: “I think the benefit of having an older dog is that he has settled in really well and is toilet trained.

“We have already taken him to the beach at Cromer - although he did get bitten on the nose by a crab.

“He is a lovely dog, everybody loves him. He follows me everywhere and he wants to be with people.”

To help the RSPCA fight cruelty like this text HELP to 78866 to give £3 (text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).