Update: Went to the RSPCA, spent an hour filling in forms, looking at dogs etc and then at the end of it they turned round and went "we legally need landlord's permission". Now her landlord is a bastard and it takes weeks to get a simple response about a repair job so that wasn't happening. Pisser is that there is a list a mile long on the website about what you need to do, you fill in a form with a check box and so on and there is no mention of this at all.
We thought "fuck you then" and went to.
http://www.petsamaritans.co.uk/category/pet-adoptions/ these people are the ones who take in the dog warden dogs and then re-home if no one claims them, from what I have heard they keep them for 3 months +10 days and then have to put them to sleep. Scroll down on the link and you will see "jonty"
We met him and the picture does not do the size of him justice, he is huuuuuge, sad thing is nor does he show how painfully thin he is. He bounced out and round us while the pound people were desperately trying to sell us on him and saying how he was calm after he had been out of the cage for a while, how he loved all humans and was great with the children who came to see him but that nobody wanted him because of how bouncy he was when he first comes out and because of his condition (he was skin and bone when they got him)
We agreed that he was indeed a friendly dog and that yes he was calmer now the initial excitement was over. There were 8 members of staff all chipping in and vouching for him "how long has he been here" says I. "over 3 months, he's being put down tomorrow" "can we take him now?" "yes, we do ask for a £80 donation though" "here's my card where do we sign"
Jonty is now in my kitchen having a blast with Daisy (randy buggers knackers are getting lopped off first available opportunity though) and has spent the afternoon playing with her in the garden (BFF needs to get her durn fencing fixed). Happy not dead dog is Happy.