Brenda admits she was a little worried about Pip’s potential for rehoming as she was older, overweight and not the prettiest of dogs.

“I care for the little dogs and when I saw her I thought, there’s nothing little about her,” she laughs.

Manning Valley Animal Rescue posted a photo of Pip on its Facebook page and it caught the eye of Bree Katsamangos as she scrolled through her newsfeed.

Bree and her husband, Peter, last year decided it was time to expand their family of five to a family of six – two adults, two small boys and one dog, Harvey, who needed a friend.

“Harvey, our first dog we found when he was offered by a family on Facebook. They were relocating and could not take him and we were looking for a suitable pet for two active boys,” Bree said.

“Harvey was three years old and a good fit, he settled in and became a fast, firm fixture in our family. A schnauzer cross Chihuahua, my sister calls him the ‘crazy professor’ thanks to his sometimes scruffy look. One man I met called him a “handsome mutt”, he is that and gentle and playful too.

“An only dog for several years we long considered the fact that he needed a friend for the long days we spent at work.”

Bree says their requirements for a second dog were that it be a “small to medium dog with a gentle nature, a sense of fun and preferably more mature to match Harvey’s temperament and energy level.”

“I was wanting a girl being outnumbered by boys, we also wanted an older dog, knowing that older dogs have a harder time finding homes. Being a busy working family, the idea of training a new puppy was also more than we, or I could handle!”

Bree says they took Harvey to meet Pip and were a little surprised by her size, describing her as “the biggest ‘Jack Russell’ you ever did see and a little chubby to boot!”

“We were delighted to find that Pip was toilet trained, begs for food, sits and rolls over at every opportunity for a belly rub. She’s a bright little lady.

“Manning Valley Animal Rescue had her vet checked, de-sexed and all vaccinations brought up to date the week we brought her home. They even took care of transferring Pip into our name, with a lifetime registration through council.

“We have watched Pip and Harvey develop a wonderful relationship, they actively play, wrestle and run. It was a good decision, Harvey is happy, Pip is happy and we’re happy. The outcome really could not have been better.

“If you’re considering a new pet, consider a rescue and an older rescue at that. There is a good fit for every individual and every family. Be open, be patient and perhaps start with Manning Valley Animal Rescue, it worked out beautifully for us.”

To contact Manning Valley Animal Rescue call 6553 7244 or visit its page on Facebook.