Dogs Trust publishes annual report for 2024
The UK’s leading canine charity, Dogs Trust, has released its annual report for 2024.
The report shows more than 47,000 people contacted Dogs Trust last year about giving up their dog - highlighting an ongoing crisis in the animal welfare sector.
While the reasons owners had to take this heartbreaking decision vary, Dogs Trust reports that the most common causes include "no longer able to cope with owning a dog" (6.1%), "unwanted behaviours" (6.07%), a "change of job/working pattern" (3.6%), " a change in accommodation" (3.2%) or “financial reasons".
The report also highlights a £4.6m deficit for the charity last year, which was planned in order to use reserves for developing new services.
Dogs Trust cared for over 11,700 dogs last year across its 22 rehoming centres in the UK and Ireland and via its network of volunteer foster carers, going on to rehome 9,914 dogs.
That figure is slightly down from 10,612 the year before, which Dogs Trust attributes to the growing number of dogs arriving with complex behavioural and medical needs that require longer stays in care.
Despite being the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust receives no government funding, relying entirely on public donations to carry out its work.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said:
“There’s no doubt that the rise in dog ownership since the pandemic, combined with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, has shifted the landscape for dogs and their owners. As a result, the animal welfare sector is continuing to experience unrelenting pressure.
“At the same time, we’re seeing more dogs than ever come to us in crisis, many with significant behavioural or medical issues that need extra time, expertise, and resources. Like many organisations in this sector, we receive no Government funding, so we are completely reliant on the generosity of our supporters.
“Despite the pressure on our services, we remain committed to supporting dogs and their owners. If you are struggling, we can offer support, training and advice to help keep you and your dog together. We’re here for you and your dog; please give us a call before you reach crisis point.”
Preventing relinquishment through early support
To reduce the number of dogs being given up, Dogs Trust has ramped up its prevention work, offering free access to behaviour advice before problems escalate. Last year:
- The Dogs Trust Behaviour Support Line helped more than 8,000 dog owners with expert, tailored advice – 2000 more than in the previous year. This free advice line gives dog owners access to expert behaviour experts over the phone.
- A further 2,259 dogs and owners received one-to-one support from the Community Clinical Animal Behaviour team, offering intensive help for more complex cases.
Earlier this year, Dogs Trust launched a new organisational strategy, which places stronger emphasis on supporting dogs with complex needs while also refocusing on early intervention and owner support. This includes more intensive behavioural care at rehoming centres and closer community engagement to help owners facing challenges stay united with their dogs.
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