PATCH, the unwanted Jack Russell terrier, has packed his suitcase and is leaving Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter for a new home after being the festive "face" of the charity's Christmas appeal.

The four-year-old dog will start 2007 in a house "with a lovely big garden", leaving behind his pals such as Zippy, Billie, Spud and Taz after being at the Northolt Drive shelter since May last year.

The lively pooch, sporting a cute festive hat and coat, fronted the shelter's public appeal for help at Christmas.

As well as helping boost donations of food and money for all the shelter's inmates, he won the heart of a couple who have offered him a new place to live.

Sue Cleary, the shelter's deputy manager, said: "He is a very lucky dog because he is being given a new home and not all the dogs are."

There are currently about 38 dogs and cats at the shelter - all relying on the kindness of local people to give tins of pet food, blankets and money to pay for meals and medication.

Sue said: "We never put a healthy dog down but we couldn't keep them without help from local people."

She is a former dog warden and knows many of the puppies that were welcome presents in December will be unwanted strays by March.

"It's the same every year and one of the reasons that we don't rehome dogs just before Christmas," she said.

Some dogs will stay in the shelter for years. But for the fortunate ones, like Patch, there will be a happy ending.