Since its launch in 2018, Dog Trust’s free Post Adoption Support service has been used over 300,000 times by dog owners across the UK.
The free scheme, which can be used by anyone who has adopted a pup from Dogs Trust links dog owners with post adoption support officers and behaviorists to gain expert advice.
Over the past five years the Post Adoption Support service has helped with a variety of dogs, Collie Malinois cross, Bear is just one of these dogs who has been transformed through this service.
When Alina and Tony met Bear at Dog Trust’s Evesham centre it was love at first sight. Aware of his behaviour challenges, they met him multiple times at the centre before they took him home. It’s believed that handsome Bear had never lived in a home before, having spent his life so far on a farm. Bear’s unconventional start in life left him nervous and unpredictable around other animals and people too. At first, Bear was very anxious around people and other dogs, even hiding behind the sofa when meeting his new owners for the first time. As Bear was struggling to adjust, adopters Alina and Tony contacted Dog Trust’s Post Adoption Support service. The team organised a visit from one of Dog Trust’s clinical animal behaviourists who worked with the new owners to build Bear’s confidence and create a training plan.
“The session was very helpful, but the real support only just started,” recalls Tony. After the session, they had regular email support for a couple of years as they continued their training journey. “With Bear, there wasn’t going to be a ‘quick fix’; we had to take the journey to change together. We made a commitment to him, so giving him back was not an option. Bear is a completely different dog now, and we couldn’t imagine life without him. The three of us did it together.”
The Post Adoption Support service has been generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, with over £600,000 of funds raised dedicated to the scheme over the past five years. This also funds the charity’s post adoption research projects which enables Dogs Trust to provide the best possible advice to adopters.
Kristina Glover, Head of Clinical Animal Behaviour at Dogs Trust said: “Our support doesn’t end the day you take your dog home. We’re here for every step of the adoption journey, from helping to find the perfect dog to offering ongoing support to help them settle into their new home. Our Post Adoption Support service and research projects has been generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and thanks to this funding we’re able to provide advice to adopters for as long as they need us. Thank you to the players of the lottery, helping raise funds for good causes, allowing us to help deserving paws! Thanks to our Post Adoption Support, dogs like Bear who need some additional help, are now living their best lives.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s heart-warming to see dogs like Bear get the help they need to live their best lives with their owners. We’re delighted that player support gives dogs who may have challenges a second, or maybe even third or fourth chance of having a loving home. It’s wonderful to see the difference that players are making to improve the lives of dogs and ensuring owners get the support they need.”
People’s Postcode Lottery has awarded over £20 million to the UK’s largest dog welfare charity since its partnership began in 2013. Funding raised by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Animal Trust so far this year has supported vital services at the charity including Canine Carer roles, the ongoing running of the Customer Support Centre, Dog School coaches and funding towards a Post Adoption Research Project. To find out more about rehoming at Dogs Trust visit: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming.
To find out more about People’s Postcode Lottery visit: Helping Charities And Good Causes | People’s Postcode Lottery
