SHE'S Solo by name - but staff at West End's Blue Cross Animal Welfare Centre at West End are hoping that the three-year-old German shepherd cross collie won't be on her own for much longer.

For when it comes to hard luck stories, Solo has had enough to make any dog lover weep.

She first went into the West End shelter nearly a year ago after the Blue Cross was tipped off by a worried neighbour that the bitch had been left tied up and neglected in a back garden.

"Her fur was all matted and we asked if we could look after her," said Blue Cross animal behaviour adviser Donna Keats.

After being rescued it was a case of three times unlucky every time it looked like Solo was set to get a loving new home.

Donna said: "She has been out three times but came back first when her new owners started to work long hours.

"The second time she came back because the marriage broke up and the third time the people only had her for a couple of weeks.

"They had to take her to work every day and Solo couldn't cope with that because she is a little bit nervous of strange things."

Now the Blue Cross is hoping to find someone with experience of dogs not only to give Solo a new home and lots of love but also keep her intelligent mind active.

"She needs an adult-only home with no other animals in it and someone who could do a lot of training and have a lot of patience with her," said Donna.

The animal behaviour adviser added: "She's a beautiful dog and I'm sure she could make someone a fantastic pet.