TESS the abandoned dog had been in an animal shelter more than half her life when Mandy Cardwell spotted her sad looking eyes and fell in love.

But this is a tale with a happy ending as this long-established resident of Bolton's Destitute Animal Shelter finally has a home.

After months of patience, gaining the trust of Tess, this gentle giant has been able to say goodbye to the shelter after five years.

There were several major obstacles in Miss Cardwell's way including her landlord refusing her a dog in the house and Tess being nervous around new people.

Not deterred though Miss Cardwell tackled both problems head on and once she had the go-ahead from her landlord she then had the difficult task of gaining the confidence of an extremely anxious Tess.

But Miss Cardwell is a determined woman and visited Tess every day in an effort to gain her trust.

"At first she just barked at me and went into a corner but eventually she started to come to me," says 54-year-old Miss Cardwell.

Shelter deputy manager Sue Cleary helped Miss Cardwell with the long process and was "sad but happy at the same time" to see Tess find a home at last.

"It took a lot of patience from Mandy and a lot of hard work but she has been brilliant and we are delighted," she says.

Fast forward three months and Tess is now living in Heaton with Miss Cardwell and has settled well into her new life despite spending five of her nine years in a kennel at the Northolt Drive Animal Shelter.

She has two comfortable beds, dozens of toys and plenty of love and affection from Miss Cardwell who is delighted with the progress Tess has made.

"She really is the perfect dog and is a pleasure to have in the house," says Miss Cardwell who fell for the large Rhodesian ridgeback cross the moment she saw her.

Tess was found as a stray, in 2010, then one family tried, twice, to give her a home before sending her back to the kennels.

It is little wonder she was nervous about getting to know Miss Cardwell.

But now she is a different dog — she is happy, affectionate and loving her life.

"She is a lovely gentle, laid back dog. She is perfectly house-trained and everyone who meets her falls in love with her," says Miss Cardwell.

A Facebook posting dedicated to Tess on the Destitute Animal Shelter page has received 1,000 "likes" and 150 "comments". "So many people said they had been crying reading the story," says Miss Cardwell.

Tess is learning to live again and to love again and she is also learning how to play.

"She doesn't know how to play fetch. I throw a ball and she just runs round the settee with me chasing her. She loves it," laughs Miss Cardwell.

The shelter runs an adoption scheme for older dogs like Tess which means they will pay for their vet fees.

Last year this cost the shelter £7,000 and with Tess there are now 17 animals on the fostering scheme.

This money is found from a separate fostering scheme fund and the shelter is always in need of financial support from the Bolton public.

It often means older dogs like Tess can be given a second chance.

To find out more ring 01204 526486 or visit www.animalshelter.org.uk