Club Meeting at Ashmores

10th February 2022 The Dogs Trust – Ella Tonge and Jess Pengelly

Ella began her presentation by confessing that she was from Yorkshire and tended to talk too much, but she gave a clear informative, well illustrated talk.

She explained that the Dogs Trust is a very old charity, founded in 1891, originally as the National Canine Defence League developing a strong strap line of: “We will never put a healthy dog down”.  In 1978 a well-known phrase of “A dog is for life not just for Christmas” was quoted by Clarissa Balder.  They now have 21 rehoming centres throughout the UK & Ireland, averaging 14000 dogs per year, of all breeds, depending on dog fashions, which change from time to time.

56% of the dogs are handed over by their owners; 41% are strays, mostly provided by Local Authorities.

All dogs are vet checked, vaccinated, neutered and micro chipped. They get 4 weeks free insurance, guarantee to take a dog back should problems arise; pre-adoption talk.

Their site at Loughborough was originally a pig farm, but has been dramatically improved to be opened in 2012, where they can care for up to 100 dogs per day.  It has a light and airy reception area backed with glass fronted kennels (more hygienic and with ‘sniff’ holes to allow for ‘communication’), a vet suite, a grooming room           

Outside areas include sand areas, grassed runs, Astroturf runs, woodland walks and field walks, but off site visits to parks and woods are possible.

Behaviour assessment and training is completed in the training barn and the whole site has been given a “Carbon paw-print” with a recycled water system, green roofs, solar panels. underfloor heating, best use of natural light and a biomass boiler.

There are 2 dedicated training centres for more challenging dogs and a special sanctuary for ‘long term’ residents. There are hydrotherapy and physiotherapy suites.

The Trust has an ‘Old Dogs Home at Shrewsbury.

Ella then showed us a case history of a Labrador that came to the Trust very overweight (9.5 stone!), but after 2 years of hydrotherapy and careful diet control a picture was shown of a lively 5 year old weighing 35 Kg

Home from home foster care was also covered and the Canine Care Card scheme (free)

They also cover education and community work, with about 30 education officers who do talks in schools and they do a wide range of campaigns: dog fouling. Breeding & puppy smuggling (particularly from Eastern European Countries)

Covid 19 has obviously had some impact on them with 40 000 dogs needing help, what with behavioural issues and financial hardship.

Their income generally comes from legacies (1/3^rd), ‘sponsor a dog’ and volunteers and Ella supplemented her talk with a couple of short videos.

David E gave a vote of thanks, thanking her for her comprehensive presentation, emphasising that he and Judy supported the Dogs Trust, having brought two rescue dogs back into the UK from Spain.                                              AR