Dogs Trust has launched a series of mini-films celebrating rescue dog ownership to encourage people to adopt not shop.
The summer months are often one of the busiest times of year for the charity with almost 33,000 calls being received in July and August over the last two years, from people wanting to give a dog its forever home.
Last year, the charity marked 40 years of its slogan ‘A Dog us For Life, Not Just For Christmas’, and over the course of the year they asked owners who have chosen to give a rescue dog a second chance, to catch their favourite moments on camera to show the lifelong bond they now share.
From Dachshund puppy, Tiny Tim who had a tough start in life after being illegally imported into the country, to American Bulldog Debo, who was found as a stray but is now enjoying lots of adventures at sea with his owners – each video captures a very special bond.
Richard Littledale, Baptist Minister at Newbury Baptist church, gave Ginny, a two-year-old Lurcher, a home in January 2018 after his wife of 30 years, Fiona dies.
Richard says: “When Fiona dies, I plunged into grief I had never known. When I found Ginny at Dogs Trust in a way it felt like we were both on a journey together. I was helping her to trust me and enjoy new experiences and she was helping me to embrace life again. It’s been a wonderful hobby to take photos of all the simple ways we spend time together through the seasons. I think in many ways she has rescued me.”
Speaking about the interest in rehoming a dog in summer months, Adam Clowes, Dogs Trust’s Operations Director said: “As a dog owner myself I know that when the days are warm and the evenings long, looking after our dogs is a lot easier than in the dark days of winter.
“Therefore, it’s understandable that as people take time off work and the children are off to school, getting a dog is something many people consider. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has adopted a Dogs Trust dog, and as we approach the busy summer months we also want to encourage people who would like a dog to be part of their family, to do lots of research in advance. That will give owners the best chance of being able to share many happy years together with their four-legged friend.
“Our dogs will always be part of the Dogs Trust family so it’s wonderful to see them in their forever homes, living the lives they deserve to live, with owners who adore them. We always do our best to make sure families find a dog that will suit their daily lives, so if you have a Tim, Debo or Gnny-shaped hole in your life, we hope you choose to give a rescue dog a second chance at happiness.”
To see all of the stories you can visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/mydogisforlife. Dogs Trust is encouraging dog lovers and owners to use the hashtag #MyDogIsForLife to share their rescue dog stories, tagging @dogtrust.
