1168 days and counting…

We all love an Underdog story, don’t we? Seeing someone overcome the odds to get their happy ending. At Dogs Trust, most dogs are rehomed after an average of 60 days, but an Underdog is a dog that has been waiting for their forever home for over 6 months, often through no fault of their own. They may have physical or mental hurdles to overcome, or simply be overlooked due to their age, size, looks or breed. Will you be there for them?

We at Dogs Trust currently have over 300 Underdogs in our care, just like Hank here, handed over as a pup as he was growing a lot bigger than his owners expected. It’s hard to believe when you meet him – as he’s so playful and loving – that he’s been with us for over 3 years now, but his size, and therefore his needs, can sadly be off-putting for potential owners. Additionally, with more dogs being abandoned and relinquished during these tough times our kennels are filling up fast, and resources are stretched more than ever. That’s why we need you to rally around the Underdogs with a gift of £5 today.

Underdogs like Hank also often have complex needs, which require individualised, and costly, care. Hank’s size means that not only does he need a double kennel to stretch out in and lots of feeding, but, his big joints have given him bilateral hip dysplasia, requiring pain relief and hydrotherapy to manage. Unfortunately, none of this love and support comes cheap. Hank’s been here for over a thousand days now and with it costing about £58 a day on average to look after a dog, you can only imagine the costs involved. Not only that, but the longer they're in our care the less space there is to take in other dogs who need them. That’s why we so desperately need your help. We never put a healthy dog down and with your kind donations we can continue to provide Hank, and dogs like him, with the specialist care they need for as long as it takes to find their forever home.

Sadly, Hank’s story is just one of many. Across 21 state-of-the-art rehoming centres, our staff work tirelessly, recognising that no two Underdogs are the same and providing them with the personalised, tailored support they need in unique facilities. We even have specialist rehabilitation units providing dogs who need a little bit of extra attention enrichment and social contact within a calm, predictable environment. However, as we receive no government funding, we simply can’t help dogs in need without your support.

Will you be part of this Underdog story by donating today? Any gift you’re able to make will help us be there for as long as it takes.

Thank you.

P.S Thanks to supporters like you we have rehomed over 250 Underdogs this year. With your gift today we can find forever homes for even more!