"He's such a happy little dog now we've got him home and we're totally in love with him".

Newlyweds adopt 12-year-old dog instead of going on their honeymoon

A newly-married couple have chosen to adopt an elderly dog instead of going on their honeymoon. Twelve-year-old mutt Graham was so neglected he had to have 24 teeth removed, but his life has since been turned around.

After he was found dodging traffic on a busy main road in Essex, Graham was taken to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where vet Steve Gosling quickly fell for his sweet and gentle nature.

Steve said he was appalled by the skinny dog's condition. As well as the worst case of tooth decay Steve had ever seen, Graham was suffering from a skin condition that caused most of his fur to fall out. He also has a heart murmur.

Under sedation, Steve removed 24 of Graham's rotten teeth, leaving him with only 11.

Despite his health problems and advanced age, newlyweds Stephanie and Luke Chadwick from Putney decided to adopt him after seeing him on Battersea's website.

Stephanie said: "We'd just got married and instead of going on honeymoon we decided to go to Battersea and get a dog. Graham's age and his health problems meant he wouldn't be the first dog most people might choose, but we thought it would be nice if we could give him his retirement home.

"He's such a happy little dog now we've got him home and we're totally in love with him".

Steve said Stephanie and Luke are the perfect owners for Graham. He said: "Graham is an elderly gentleman with a host of health problems, and sometimes it's not easy to rehome an unwell dog…

"I'm so pleased [Stephanie and Luke] came to meet him - but if they hadn't, Graham would have been coming home with me".

Image courtesy of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home