2022 has brought many challenges to the staff at the Leeds Dogs Trust rehoming centre, and they have faced them with resilience and dedication. The charity received the highest annual number of handover requests in its 131-year history, which is a clear indicator that the current cost of living crisis is hitting dog ownership hard.
Thankfully the dedicated team in Leeds have been there for countless dogs, and adopters, and have many things to celebrate. Take a look back at the year below.
7. After 697 days waiting to find his special someone, stray Bulldog Travis finally got his forever home
One of the biggest success stories this year was the adoption of Travis, a three-year-old Bulldog, who arrived back in March 2020 after being found as a stray. He had many anxieties and found the world a very frightening place, but the centre’s Training and Behaviour team developed a tailor-made plan to help him with his problems. It took a long time, and a lot of dedication and consistency, but eventually Travis had grown in confidence so much that he was ready to find his forever home. The search for the right home was a long time coming, as the team didn’t want to risk him being returned to their care as this would set him back hugely in his training. Eventually the right people came forward and started the long process of building Travis’s trust. Through very regular meets at the rehoming centre, followed by many home visits, the team were able to hand over all the training skills to his new family, which made the whole transition a massive success. 81 days after they first met them, Travis was officially adopted by his new family and left the centre to start his new life, where he has grown in confidence even more and now joins them on holidays and fun days out. It just shows what a little time, patience and teamwork can achieve. Good luck Travis! Photo: Dogs Trust
8. Volunteers like Sally have really helped the team give extra time and support to the dogs
he rehoming centre would like to say a huge thank you to their amazing team of volunteers who have continued to support the team throughout the year. From Volunteer Canine Assistants, who help clean kennels and walk the dogs, to Volunteer Meet and Greets, who support the busy reception team, they have really helped the staff to give the dogs all the extra care and love they need. What an amazing group of inspirational people! If you might be interested in volunteering at the Leeds rehoming centre, simply email [email protected] to find out more. Photo: Dogs Trust
9. Santa's Little Helper has been transformed by Dogs Trust Leeds after being found as a stray
The cost-of-living crisis has had a huge effect on dog relinquishment this year as more and more people find themselves struggling to find the money to look after their pets. One such case is Santa’s Little Helper, a one-year-old Lurcher who was found in early December. He was terribly skinny and suffering from a very painful skin condition which had clearly been untreated for some time as he was almost bald and very itchy. Thankfully he was found, and the local Dog Warden brought him to the Leeds rehoming centre where was treated immediately and placed in an extra comfy kennel to recover. He’s since been adopted and will see in the new year with his new family. Dogs Trust urges anyone who is struggling to care for their dog to contact them so they can offer help and support where they can. Photo: Dogs Trust
10. Longer term residents like Stuart get all the attention and training they need until they find their forever homes
Some dogs take longer than others to rehome and the Training and Behaviour Team are there to support the dogs spending longer than average times to find their forever homes. A good few of these longer-term dogs have found their forever homes in 2022 with very special and dedicated adopters who were happy to take the time needed to transition them to their new homes, and one such lucky boy was Stuart the Dobermann. He arrived at the rehoming centre when he was only one-year-old in 2020 due to him not settling well in his home. The team needed to work on his confidence and teach him some better ways of expressing himself and after a few months of consistent training he began to turn a corner and was made available for rehoming. It took a long time to find the right people who had the dedication he needed but eventually they found him! Following many weeks of gradual introductions and home visits, Stuart was adopted and is now living his best life with his forever family who adore him. Photo: Dogs Trust
11. Happy New Year from everyone at Dogs Trust Leeds
Finally, the entire team of staff and volunteers at Dogs Trust Leeds would like to thank everybody who has supported them throughout 2022. They consider themselves very lucky to have such an amazing local following. From people regularly donating unwanted bedding, toys or treats for the dogs, to people voluntarily giving their time, and homes. They are heading into 2023 with many more challenges to face, but with the continued support of the wider community, they know they’ll continue to be there for countless dogs in need. Happy New Year everybody! Photo: Dogs Trust