Dogs Trust offer help to owners during pandemic
The charity is urging people to contact them if they feel like they can no longer care for their dog
Last updated 24th Feb 2021
The UK's largest dog welfare charity says its bracing itself for an increased reliance on its service as owners impacted by the pandemic consider giving up their pets.
Between August and January, Dogs Trust saw a 41% increase in web traffic to its 'Giving Up Your Dog' page compared to the six months before.
Today, the charity has launched its Change the Tale campaign aiming to highlight the heartbreak involved in giving up your pets.
As part of the campaign, Dogs Trust have released some recordings of real phone calls made to the charity by people considering handing their dogs over.
Dogs Trust is urging pet owners thinking of giving up their dogs to contact them first, as they may be able to help prevent it.
Locally, Dogs Trust Shoreham has helped to change the tale for seven spaniel pups - Spud, Parsnip, Sausage, Chestnut, Cranberry, Sprout and Pud.
The eight-week-olds came into the rehoming centre in December. An unplanned litter, the owner couldn’t cope and contacted Dogs Trust for help.
Spud – now called George – was adopted by Fiona Box and her partner and lives in Worthing with their two chickens. Fiona said: “George is a typical puppy – when he’s good he’s very, very good and when he’s bad he’s naughty!
“He likes to chew on anything that is my favourite really; my favourite rug, cushions, spectacles.
“Despite trying to eat absolutely everything in sight he is utterly adorable. He’s great with other dogs and enjoys regular walks with his four-legged-friends and takes everything in his stride.”
Adel Burnett, Manager at Dogs Trust Shoreham Rehoming Centre, said:
“It is so wonderful to know that George has found his forever home, along with many other dogs that we have been able to change the tale for, thanks to people like the Box family choosing to adopt.   
“We know that the pandemic, and its economic repercussions, will have devastating effects on some people’s lives and their ability to care for their pets. When people take on the responsibilities of dog ownership, they do so with the best intentions to care for them long-term. But as the calls to Dogs Trust show, in these extraordinary times circumstances can change in a heartbeat, leaving owners with incredibly tough decisions to make.  
“It is heart-breaking to hear someone having to choose, for example, between a roof over their head, or their dog and we’d like to thank the people who made these calls for allowing us to share their story and for coming to us in their time of need. Unfortunately, we believe the worst is yet to come and we expect many more calls like this as the pandemic fallout continues - and we will do all we can to help those in need of our support.”