I fell in love with him the moment I saw his big, melting brown eyes and his sleek, dark hair, writes fiona Tarrant. There's no doubt he was handsome. On Monday, he makes his television debut and by then he'll be breaking lots of hearts.

But Doo-Dah didn't want to know me. The five-year-old labrador/German shepherd cross was keeping his feelings to himself. He would neither look at nor come near me, despite my attempts to woo him.

"It's almost as if he's frightened to show any emotion or get too close to anyone in case he's rejected," said Sharon Lum, one of the staff looking after dogs at the Blue Cross animal welfare centre in Burford. Doo-Dah has had the longest stay at the kennels. He's been there for two years and will be seen on ITV's Give a Pet a Home programme on Monday. "He's a lovely dog," said Sharon. "He doesn't bite but he does have behavioural problems. He's not very well socialised and his breeding makes him more protective of one person, rather than many."

Doo-Dah, who used to go under the less comical name of Radar, was three when he was brought into the centre. He had been a street dog and when his homeless owner was found accommodation, there was no room for him.

"We've all got nicknames for him, but Doo-Dah stuck when we started singing him a special little song: 'We know a dog who wants a home, doo-dah...'," explained Sharon, 27, who has worked at the Blue Cross for 12 years and has four dogs of her own. All this weekend, dogs and other animals will be featured on ITV's Give a Pet a Home, hosted by Carol Vorderman and Matthew Kelly. The programmes will include filmed examples of both animal cruelty and kindness.

In Monday's edition, Sharon will talk about Doo-Dah while the Blue Cross centre's deputy manager Rosie Millin will show off one of the many rabbits there.

Rosie, who has four dogs and four cats, has worked at the centre for eight years. She said: "It's about average for us all to have at least three pets.

"We've got about 45 dogs, between 30 and 40 cats, 37 horses, ponies and donkeys, plus all the rabbits, hamsters and suchlike. We probably re-home between five and ten dogs a week and there's a waiting list for the horses," said Rosie. This weekend's TV programmes - and centres like the Blue Cross - aren't about quick-fixes, and the TV programme will not be allowing anyone to adopt animals on the spot. Instead, they'll be put in touch with their nearest rescue centre.

The animals at the Blue Cross centre have varied backgrounds. Some are neglect cases, others are brought in when owners move house or die.

"It can be very upsetting but it's rewarding when we find them new homes. None of the animals is put down. We either find them homes or they stay here for the rest of their days," said Rosie. Sharon added: "The trouble with Doo-Dah is that he doesn't put himself forward when people come round. He looks like he's more interested in the other dogs and what's going on around than finding himself a new home. It really isn't his fault."

I walked back past the empty pens and read one of the signs on the wall. It asked people not to be put off by how the dogs behave when in their pens.

"They are frightened and confused and frustrated," the notice said. "Just think about their sadness and loneliness."

Somewhere out there, someone can give Doo-Dah a good home.

*For more information, phone Blue Cross on 01993 822483.

Story date: Saturday 01 May

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