Charity sees more than 1,000 dog rehoming requests

An animal centre in Warwickshire says it has so far this year received 1,284 inquiries from people looking to give up their dogs.

Amid the demand for its rehoming service, Dogs Trust Kenilworth is spotlighting its Homestay project, which enables pets to remain in their current home while the charity searches for a suitable new one.

The service was created due to kennels and foster homes being "consistently full", the charity said.

"If giving up a dog is the right choice, we'll support owners every step of the way and find them the best option to rehome their dog," said Jake Flatman, head of rehoming at the charity.

Nationally, Dogs Trust has supported more than 700 dogs so far this year through the Homestay service.

The charity said the service was there to help owners before they reached a crisis point in giving up their dog, such as selling their pet online, or simply giving them away.

Dogs Trust Kenilworth said that one dog called Nala, a Bernese Mountain Dog-Collie cross, found her new home through Homestay and was reserved within just three days.

The charity said that Nala came into Dogs Trust's care after struggling to cope when left alone in her previous home, and then passed her pre-intake assessment, but showed signs of stress in the kennel environment.

The team suggested Homestay - giving her the chance to remain at home while waiting for the right adopter, and after a couple of successful meets, Nala went home with her new family.

"Three months on, she has settled beautifully and is very content - she has even celebrated her second birthday with a party and a special doggy cake," the charity said.

It added: "Nala's story is a wonderful example of how Homestay can make a real difference for dogs, especially dogs who may find the kennel environment particularly challenging."

The charity said the new service helped to reduce stress levels for the animal and also freed up kennel space for other dogs in need of care.

"We know that giving up a dog is an incredibly difficult decision, but we want people to call us the minute they need help," Flatman said.

"The earlier people get in touch, the more we can do to understand their situation and help find the most suitable support."

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