There are many staffies at the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Milton and residents are being encouraged to go along and meet them.

Research conducted by the charity in 2012 revealed a staggering 75 per cent of Scots who would rehome a dog were unlikely to give a Staffordshire bull terrier or staffie crossbreed a home, many believing the breed is dangerous.

Joe McDade, centre manager said: “It’s heartbreaking that staffies have been labelled as dangerous because, in reality, they tend to be friendly, affectionate and loyal.

“They’re are real people dogs who thrive on human companionship, which is why it’s so sad to see them living here when they could be in loving homes.

“We never put a healthy animal to sleep and, because it can take months to rehome our staffies, the strain on resources is enormous.

In many cases staffies have been taken on by certain members of society as a status symbol because of the perception that they are aggressive dogs.

“Once these owners realise their dog is friendly and good natured, they abandon them or attempt to sell them to an equally unsuitable person.

The Scottish SPCA iskeen to highlight there is no such thing as bad dogs, just bad owners.

One dog in need of a new home in the Milton centre is Berty.

Joe said: “Berty is an adorable pup who arrived in care in January. We don’t understand why no one is interested in this poor lad as he is a real sweetheart and the perfect example of how great staffies can be.

“Berty, who is five years old, is the ideal dog for families and is missing out simply because he is a staffie. He gets on with other dogs, is housetrained, has lived with children over seven and travels well in the car. Berty even behaves when left alone in the house for short periods.

He can be a little high energy at times, he can have this focused positively into training and loves to learn new tricks. “This fella is a great all-rounder and has all the potential to be a wonderful family dog. We would love for anyone interested in rehoming Berty to give us a call.” Anyone thinking of taking on a dog is welcome to visit the centre to meet some of the staffies who are patiently waiting for a fresh start. Those interested in giving a staffie a good home can visit the SPCA’s centre in Milton, Dumbarton. The centre is open seven days a week between 10am and 4pm.