DOGS TRUST’S LONG-LEGGED CANINES SPENDING TWICE AS LONG IN KENNELS
Dogs Trust has revealed that on average, Greyhounds and Lurchers are more likely to spend a longer period of time in kennels waiting for new potential owners.
The average length of stay at Dogs Trust for these breeds is around two months, with smaller breeds such as Shih Tzu’s spending less than half that time before going off to new homes.
Despite this, last year the charity was able to find new homes for more than 1,000 Greyhounds and Lurchers at its 20 rehoming centres across the UK.
The team at Dogs Trust’s Rehoming Centre in Shoreham, West Sussex is appealing for potential owners to come forward and help change the tale for more of them in 2021.
Dogs Trust Shoreham Rehoming Centre Manager Adel Burnett said:
“From smaller Lurcher types to taller Greyhounds, these loveable pooches very often find their way into our care through no fault of their own, and in some cases can stay with us for more than six months. Thankfully our dedicated team is always on hand to give them everything they need whilst they are with us, which is thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery whose support helps fund some of our wonderful Canine Carers at the centre.
“We are unsure why these breeds tend to stay with us a bit longer than others, however we find there are sometimes misconceptions about the care involved if giving them a home; coupled with more common factors that can act as a barrier to dogs finding homes quickly, such as their age, background or the colour of their coat.
“Given how fast they are, we occasionally find potential owners think Greyhounds and Lurchers need more exercise than the average dog, which isn’t necessarily true. Some of them also need to wear a muzzle when out for walks because they can get overly excited around small animals; however, we often find that once potential owners have a better understanding of this breed trait, it can help them keep an open mind about having a Greyhound or Lurcher in their life.
“We really hope we can find amazing new homes for our long-legged friends at the centre and continue to change perceptions about these fantastic breeds.”
One Greyhound in need of a new home at Dogs Trust Shoreham is George.
George is an active, three-year-old Greyhound with a lot of love to offer. He may appear to be a little timid when you first meet him, but with a patient and gentle approach, he’ll be your best pal in no time. He’s a big fan of toys and is partial to the soft and squeaky kind, which he often takes to his bed to play with.
As an ex-racer, George understandably has a high chase drive. He is fully trained to wear his muzzle and will need to wear it on his walks, as well as needing to stay on his lead. To ensure he can enjoy a regular off-lead run about, it is essential that George has a garden of his own at home.
George would like to live with another well-suited canine chum but no other animal species and the youngest members of his human family should be over the age of 14.
If you think you could change the tale for George please check out his profile on the Dogs Trust Shoreham website and click on the ‘Come and meet me’ button.
Although the rehoming centre is currently closed to the public, due to current lockdown restrictions, Dogs Trust Shoreham can still rehome some dogs through their handover at home service. For dogs who need to meet potential owners a few times before going home, the team can take interest from members of the public and arrange visits for when lockdown restrictions ease.
If you think you have home in your heart for a canine companion, visit https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/our-centres/shoreham/ and contact the team for more information.
If you are struggling to cope with looking after your dog, for whatever reason, contact Dogs Trust on 0300 303 2188. Alternatively, please give what you can to help Dogs Trust change the tale for dogs who haven’t yet found their forever home, by visiting www.dogstrust.org.uk/changethetale