More than 100,000 dogs await new owners in UK adoption shelters.

National Dog Adoption Month, taking place throughout August, is looking to raise awareness to the concept of dog adoption, the benefits to adopting.

Among Blue Cross dogs desperate for a new home is Scruffy, an 11 month old male Labrador cross Border Terrier (pictured).

National Dog Adoption Month is being launched in partnership with DogsBlog.com, a dog adoption site which has rehomed over 2,450 dogs for rescues all around the country since launching last January.

Behavioural advice and support is offered, as well as a helpline to advise on topics such as settling your new rescue dog into his/her new home and seperation anxiety.

The scheme is being supported by a growing list of celebrities including Lilly Allen, George Michael, John Barrowman, Geri Haliwell and Drew Barrymore.

Spokesperson Kim Bruce said: "For many, the idea of adopting or 'rescuing' a dog carries with it a certain image.

"A notion of doing a good deed, taking on a problem dog or an ill treated animal with a multitude of behaviour and psychological issues is a common perception of dog adoption. The reality is very different.

"Dogs end up in adoption shelters for a wide variety of reasons such as former owners no longer having the finances to keep a dog, ill health or death of previous owner or a major change of circumstance.

"Within the UK animal welfare system are literally tens of thousands of dogs who would - and indeed do - make superb, lifelong family pets.

"In fact, choosing a dog from a shelter has many advantages over and above buying a puppy. For one, new owners can often get a great appreciation of the dog's personality, likes and dislikes.

"Secondly, adopting a dog enables owner to hone their selection criteria to ensure they are taking home the perfect dog for their lifestyle.

"One of the major reasons why dogs actually end up in a shelter is because people often select the wrong dog for their particular lifestyle.

"Any dog adoption centre, such as the Blue Cross, will work hard to avoid this happening so owners and dogs are very carefully matched.

"The campaign aims to completely dispel the myth that 'rescue' dogs need pity or sympathy. Or that dogs in shelters are somehow there due to problems in their makeup, physical or emotional."

For more information visit the national dog adoption website www.dogsblog.com or contact the Northiam Blue Cross Centre on 01797 252243.