AFTER 500 phone calls from generous Adver readers, abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier Roxie has found a loving home.

The nine-month-old pup is finally getting the love and attention she deserves from Stratton couple Ann and Rob Green and 12-year-old daughter Rebecca.

Rob, 44, fell in love with Roxie the minute he set eyes on her brindle features on the Adver website on February 2.

“It’s very much a matter of fate I think,” he said. “For ages Ann has been banging on about a dog and – without giving her age away – she had a very significant birthday on February 8 so when I saw that tear-jerker of a story in the Adver it just seemed she was destined for our home.”

Ann added:”We’re into our third week with Roxie now and it’s like she’s always been here, she’s part of the furniture now and she is as good as gold.

“The way she behaves is reassuring because she doesn’t act like she’s been abused in any way. It just seems her owner didn’t want her anymore.

“But we love her to bits and she has settled into a routine nicely. We’re very happy to have her.”

The couple took Roxie into their Grange Drive home on February 15. She had been found on a busy Bournemouth road by her owner when she was no longer wanted.

It was only by a stroke of luck the frightened puppy ran right into Swindon dog lover Keli Salome, a travelling sales rep.

Keli, 39, from Hannington, near Highworth brought her home before launching a search for a new loving home in the Swindon Advertiser.

“I must have had about 500 phonecalls at all hours of the day and night,” she said.

“So many people just called to see how she was or to ask if there was anything they could do. It seems Swindon is mostly a town of dog lovers.

Roxie’s tale of woe touched the heart of vet Graeme Pack who had her spade, chipped and innoculated at Purton Veterinary Surgery for less then half the £215 price tag, before she was handed over to the Greens.

World class dog trainer Anthony Clarke was also touched by Roxie’s plight and has offered her dog training classes at his agility school in Lechlade.

“So many people have fallen in love with Roxie,” said Keli, who has two border collies of her own, some chickens and a cat.

“But as soon as I walked into Ann and Rob’s house I knew it was the home for her. She’s always wagging her tail with her tongue hanging out so I like to think I made the right choice.”