Last year Southern Highland News ran stories on 22 dogs that were part of a research program.

The pups were all well-fed, sheltered and vet checked, but lacked the worldly experience and love a family pet receives.

Since then, all but three of the dogs have found wonderful homes with Southern Highlands residents.

Assistant manager of Kelston Country Kennels Emma Paloff has made it her mission over the past year to find homes for the dogs, and provides full support during the rehoming process.

Emma said the dogs' new owners were "dog adoption heroes" who had found the experience to be "rewarding beyond expectation".

"Many of these dog lovers are now assisting in the program to re-home the final three, encouraging anyone with the time, love and space for a new companion to look into adopting one of these beautiful dogs," Emma said.

A no-obligation trial period is provided so compatibility is ensured.

Emma said thanks to the kindness, generosity and goodwill of a few Southern Highlands residents, the five-year-old dogs were now beginning their rehabilitation into the outside world with exposure to things like cars, cats, and walks in public.

"Indiana, the smallest of the three, had her first experience of crowds recently when she went walking the streets of Berrima on the long weekend, wearing feathers and all," she said.

"She coped extremely well, receiving lots of attention and, just like the 19 dogs from this group which have already gone into homes, Indiana proved that with calm leadership and reassurance, life as a well balanced, happy, 'free dog' is perfectly possible."

Emma said it was simply a matter of the right people coming forward to offer these extremely worthy dogs a loving home.

"This is an extremely rare and commendable program, as animals used for research are usually 'disposed of' once they are no longer required," she said.

Emma hopes the success she has had in re-homing (almost) this entire colony from one particular research company will pave the way for further programs to be implemented within the largely 'unseen' industry of animal research on dogs and cats in Australia.

For more information to help promote this cause, or if you think you know someone who might be able to provide a loving home for one of these dogs, contact Emma on 0422 774 274, email epaloff@gmail.com, or Facebook: Senior Dog Adoptions