From 4 – 6 July Dogs Trust will be exhibiting at the Homeless Link Annual Conference ‘The Power To Change’ highlighting the Dogs Trust Hope Project and its Veterinary Entitlement Card Scheme and Welcoming Dogs pack.

Many homeless people have dogs, and would not be without their loyal companion, but Dogs Trust research conducted with housing providers has revealed that a shocking 86% of hostels refused to allow clients with dogs1; and despite many of these people putting their own pet’s health and happiness before their own they find it difficult to provide veterinary treatments for their dog; their most loyal companion and friend.

The Welcoming Dogs pack is designed to help hostels, shelters and day centres make an informed decision about accepting dogs and contains useful information, which includes guidelines for accepting dogs as well as model dog policies and case studies of hostels that already allow pets.

Dogs Trust’s Hope Project Veterinary Entitlement Card Scheme provides free preventative veterinary care (vaccinations, microchipping, neutering, worming and flea treatment) to dogs whose owners are homeless or in housing crisis. The card also covers any other essential veterinary treatment up to a maximum of £2502. Those eligible can apply for a card through a registered participating homelessness organisation, such as a hostel, day centre or shelter; the scheme operates in over 30 towns and cities across the UK, run with the help of local homelessness organisations and veterinary surgeries. Homelessness organisations can also register to make applications for their clients online, making the whole process more efficient.
 
Clare Kivlehan, Dogs Trust Outreach Projects Manager comments:

'‘Exhibiting at the annual Homeless Link conference will be a great opportunity for us to discuss the benefits of accepting dogs with those working in the homelessness sector and to make people aware of the important role pets often play in their clients’ lives.''  

Dogs Trust would like to hear from any organisations and projects who have clients with dogs and would be interested in joining the Veterinary Entitlement Card Scheme. For more information regarding Dogs Trust Hope Project Veterinary Entitlement Scheme and to download a 'Welcoming Dogs' pack, then please visit: www.dogstrusthopeproject.org.uk

Dogs Trust Hope Project has been helping dogs whose owners are homeless or in housing crisis since 1994 by providing free veterinary treatments and welfare advice UK wide. The project also works towards encouraging homelessness organisations to accept clients with dogs by providing policy guidelines and information. 

ENDS

1 Dogs Trust research.
2 In these cases, the dog owner is liable for the first £10 of each treatment.

The following people are available for interviews, filming and photography:
Clare Kivlehan   Outreach Projects Manager
Chris Laurence  Dogs Trust Veterinary Director

For more information please contact:
Sharon Hatt   Press Officer 
Tel: 020 7833 7620   Email: sharon.hatt@dogstrust.org.uk