A family fostering a rare breed of dog are struggling to find a new owner in the Norfolk area.

Jodie Ayre, 21, is a voluntary fosterer with the DDB Welfare, a national non-profit organisation which takes in dogue de Bordeauxs, who have been mistreated and finds new homes for the relatively unknown breed.

Mrs Ayre, who lives in Horstead, said: 'I had never seen the breed around Norfolk until we got one of our own, Maddison.

'We managed to relocate a Bordeaux about a year ago but since then it has been tough.

'I think if people know they are here in the Norfolk area and in need of a new home they might want to give these dogs a new life.'

The family are currently looking after Beau, a two-year-old male who is yet to be relocated.

Fosterers take the dogs in for four weeks, carrying out health checks and ensuring they are fit for adoption.

But Mrs Ayre says keeping the dogs any longer is harmful: 'If the dogs have had a bad upheaval in their past they can quickly get attached to their fosterers.

'To avoid further stress to the dogs we try to find them a home within this timescale.

'Beau has been with us for nearly seven weeks and I cannot understand why – he is a lovely dog.

'Sadly, without the right publicity these dogs do tend to go unnoticed.'

Mrs Ayre described the large fawn coloured dogs as gentle and loyal and said they could be placed with a range of different adoptees.

'They suit all types of owners, especially families,' she said.

'If you look on the welfare's fan base page on Facebook they are always in the arms of young children.'

The DDB Welfare is currently experiencing a shortage of adopters and would be grateful for any readers interested in Beau to get in contact.

Anyone interested should email Mrs Ayre on jodie.ayre@live.co.uk

Have you got a story about your pet? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk