An adorable dog was abandoned at a vet's and left to be put to sleep because his family didn't want him anymore.
Vets rescued the Yorkshire Terrier named Theo who is now looking for a new loving home.
His personality and needs are now being assessed at Friends of Rescue so he can be matched with a forever home in time for Christmas.
Staff at the animal rehoming charity said the four-year-old pooch is very sociable and loves to go on walks.
"This poor little guy was left at a vets to be euthanised due to being unwanted," his foster mum told Belfast Live.
"He is a busy little man, but if he gets two good walks and play time, he can settle for periods. He's also very good at night time.
"Theo loves his walks and he will go round the park twice no bother.
"He is happy meeting other dogs and is very sociable, but can if he feels uneasy about strangers, he has a tendency to bark."
The foster mum said Theo interacts with everyone but is becoming attached to her at the centre in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
"He finds it extremely hard to settle when I leave in the morning," she added.
"He wouldn't be able to sleep in a room on his own at night, or be left alone in the house.
"He sleeps on the bed beside me which I think he finds a comfort."
Theo loves to play and his favourite toy is currently the Kong – a hollow rubber chew that can be filled with food.
"He is almost house trained and we have a little work to do on that," his foster mum said.
"He can be mouthy when he's playing but it's all good natured. He is just a lovely wee man, good natured and fun, and he needs someone active who can give him lots of time."
Theo could live with other dogs but they would need to be as active as him "or he will torture the life out of them," she added.
A spokesperson for the charity described the pooch as "buck daft" and said there isn't a cuddly toy safe around him.
"He is just doing the very best and we are so delighted that he's made it out of that vets alive to get a chance with a family who will adore him," they said.
"Theo medically has now been signed off. He was neutered and had his trachea X-rayed as he was showing signs of a candidate for trachea issues.
"But at the moment, all is well and no treatment is necessary but he will need monitored throughout his life as it is very common in the Yorkie breed."
