Give a dog a home

Could you help a homeless dog?

Last year a painful number of dogs were abandoned. Part of this sad fact was blamed on the sudden clawing effect of the credit crunch which has forced thousands to give up on their faithful four legged friends whilst other cold hearted pet owners claimed that their pets didn’t match their furniture!

As the British attempt to save money during the recession, their pets could even be heading straight for the pot as, shockingly, self-sufficient Britons target animal sanctuaries for food!

Fortunately for every irresponsible pet owner and petivore out there there is a handful of people prepared to take on a new furry friend. In January alone this year the Dogs Trust re-homed a record 1,384 dogs – way up on 170 last year. It seems that in spite of tough times many of us can still find the room and spare cash to give a dog a forever home.

The web has really lent a paw at helping rehome thousands of dogs all over the world. Read about Dogs Trust adoptee, Yogi the Boxer, who astonishingly found a home in Merseyside via a Twitter.

Here are some tips on where to look and, if you adopt, what to look out for in your new paw friend.

Rehoming a dog can be a tough ordeal so before you take the plunge ask yourself are you ready? Are you strong willed? And are you patient? Understanding a dog which may have had a hard past is a hard task and can often leave people shocked or disappointed. If you are not prepared to take this risk rethink.

Where to go - Check out Battersea Dogs Home and Dogs Trust Rehoming websites for updated profiles of dogs needing a new family.

Step by step - Choose a quiet time to bring your dog to its new home and introduce each family member slowly. If you already have a dog, introduce them in neutral territory like a park or field. You may want to keep both dogs on leashes at first to avoid problems with protective instinct.

Get a schedule - Dogs love routine, so make sure that you begin introducing a regular schedule for your new mutt this will help him/her get used to a new environment better. Feed, walk and play at the same times every day.

Pawly dogs - It’s easy to figure out if your dog is feeling unwell however this may be harder to notice in a new dog whose personality may still unpredictable. Although most dogs are checked and vetted before being rehomed many can bring with them common health problems such as prolonged gradual weight loss or stress induced vomiting & diarrhoea. If you notice these problems you can introduce a daily natural supplement like Bionic Biotic, which can help improve the dog’s overall condition and help boost the immune system. Take Ivy, the German Shepherd who was treated with a daily dose of Bionic Biotic in conjunction with her treatment. After a few months Ivy’s health had improved ten-fold and she now lives a healthy life. Benson is another lucky dog read here about his story.

Train, play and love - Give your dog your undivided attention, this can be hard at the best of times but it’s important to give your new friend as much love and affection as possible. This quality time is fundamental to your rapport and will help you gain more confidence in each other. Make sure you balance training and exercise with down time such as grooming and playing.

Dog Walking - Daily exercise is very important to your dog’s wellbeing. If you work during the day or don’t have extra time to walk your dog then employ a local dog walker. A tired out dog is a happy and healthy dog.

For more advice on rehoming a pet download the RSPCA’s guide online here.

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