Last year Dogs Trust cared for more than 16,000 dogs across their 18 rehoming centres in the
UK and Ireland. They have a non-destruction policy and will never put a healthy dog to
sleep.
At the Leeds centre eight puppies have recently been handed in after being abandoned in a
cardboard box in the woods. Their mother Robyn was found tied to a tree. Thanks to Dogs Trust
all eight puppies now have new homes but there are strict guidelines for owners when it comes
to adoption.
We just give them a grilling to make sure that the''re aware of everything that comes
with a puppy. They will chew your table legs or furniture. But that's because if you don't
leave them enough of their own things lying around, they're more inclined to chew your
things. It's through boredom and frustration. If they own another dog, then we'll make their
dog's well cared for, fully vaccinated and things, because the way they treat their existing
dog, you'll see how they're going to treat the puppies.
Anyone who works full time wouldn't be able to adopt a puppy unless they had someone to
dog sit for a couple of hours every day.
As a rule we don't let pups go to a home where they can be left for longer than four hours,
otherwise they'll never last the house training. Puppies are able to hold onto themselves for
at least four hours, but any longer than that you will come home to a mess, and it isn't
fair on the puppy to be expected to hold on to the toilet for that long.
The first of the eight puppies will be rehomed later today. Meanwhile, Kev a two year old
Shih Zhu is about to be checked over by the Dogs Trust vet. Kev was brought in from the
stray kennels earlier today and is having trouble seeing out of his left eye.
Right, so this the board Kevin. Or are we sticking just with Kev.
Kev. Best with the Kevin. Okay.
Got quite gungey eyes. Right, you have got severely gungey eyes,
Kev. Yeah, that's sore under there, Joy.
Is it? It's like he can hardly see then.
That's all down his face, Joy. Still, it needs this in. You see you can see where it's running
away down his face.
Yeah.
So the skin underneath there will be quite sore.
I think once the debris is cleared away, hopefully that should resolve the problem. But we need
to have a closer look at the eye, because obviously if he's producing a lot more tears,
there has to be a reason for that and it may be that he has either an eye infection or
extra lashes or something going in the eye that's contributing to that.
Kev's not in a good condition. His back foot is also crusted over and matted and his nails
haven't been clipped for a very long time.
It often is that you get a condition that starts off, it's not kept on top of, either
through cost or through the fact that it's not been handled well, and the dog becomes
very sensitive to having these problems dealt with, so they don't like having their nails
clipped or they don't like having their eyes done. So people tend to not do it, and it
becomes neglected and then it becomes a major issue.
Tomorrow Kev will be put under heavy sedation. The fur around his face and paws will be clipped
away to discover the true extent of the damage underneath.
Back with the puppies - eight families have successfully passed the Dogs Trust adoption
test which includes a home visit. The Picot-Smith family are excited to be adopting a little
pup called Alfie. Just driving from Roundhay Park Leeds and
spotted the Dogs Trust and came in and discovered that Alfie was up for adoption. Choosing one
was very difficult, they're all absolutely beautiful. But he just had a circle of white
around his nose like a little polo and he just stood out, didn't he? Yeah. And decided
to get a boy because Josh is outnumbered at home. So redress the balance.
Alfie's sister Olive is also going home today to join the Casey household.
Zack was desperate for a dog, our son. Really, really dying for a dog. Lola's obviously frightened
of dogs. So we thought it might be a good to get a puppy and hopefully overcome Lola's
fear. As well as being good fun for all of us.
We thought that one were the nicest, because it's really nice and just really liked it.
You thought it was a bit sad, didn't you, that were taking her away from her mummy and
her brothers and sisters?
Yeah, but I think it's really nice that it's not got a home and I can adopt it.
Yeah.
To ensure the pups get the very best start in life the families have had to register
with a vet and enrol for dog training classes. Canine carer Anna says it's moments like this
that make her job worthwhile
It really is rewarding. It's a lovely feeling though, isn't it? Especially these guys that
had such a bad start to life. When you introduce them to a really lovely family who are going
to give them as much love as I have being here, then it really is nice.
In the next episode - a reality check for potential owners hoping to rescue a dog
Unfortunately the dogs don't think to themselves, thank goodness these people are taking me
home and taking me somewhere nice. As far as they're concerned, it's just another upheaval
in what's been a very stressful time. So please be prepared for mishaps and accidents.
And will Kev the Shih Zhu be rehomed?
We're took him out for, you know, about an hour yesterday, walked about with him, played
with him. We've had a Shih Zhu before, so we know the temperament. Just lovely, a lovely
dog.