Retailer Pets at Home’s corporate foundation, Pets Foundation, has announced £1.2 million in funding over three years for Dogs Trust’s Behaviour Support Line.
Dogs Trust’s Behaviour Support Line provides free, expert advice to all dog owners. Behaviour-related issues account for more than a third of dogs handed over to Dogs Trust each year, and demand for behavioural support is growing, with Dogs Trust’s Behaviour Support Line having helped more than 35,000 dog owners since launching as a pilot in 2022.
In the last year alone, 19,000 owners were supported, with more 40,000 calls completed, and the team forecasts demand will continue to grow, with more than 20,000 dogs expected to be supported this year. As demand has increased, the service has expanded its opening hours and grown from a pilot team of three to a specialist team of over 20.
The investment marks the next stage in a 14-year relationship between Pets at Home and Dogs Trust, which has generated more than £6 million in value for the charity and supported over 100,000 dogs and their owners. Pets at Home stores and Vets for Pets practices will help signpost owners to the Behaviour Support Line if needed.
Amy Angus, Head of Charity Partnership and Communities at Pets at Home, said: “We know just how much pets mean to the people who love them, but behavioural challenges can sometimes leave owners feeling overwhelmed.
“The Behaviour Support Line gives owners somewhere to turn when they’re struggling, before those challenges reach a point of crisis. We want people to know that asking for help is okay, that they won’t be judged, and that giving up a much-loved pet isn’t their only option.”
Maria Murray, Dogs Trust Behaviour and Community Services Director said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to The Pets Foundation for this significant investment and proud to be continuing a relationship with Pets at Home that has lasted more than a decade.
“The real value of this funding will be felt long beyond an individual phone call. Giving an owner the right advice at the right time can change the course of a dog’s life, building understanding and confidence and, in some cases, helping a family stay together. With The Pets Foundation’s support, we’ll be able to make that difference for many more dogs and their owners.”
Established by Pets at Home in 2006, the Pets Foundation is a registered charity. Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for 11,000 dogs every year across its network of 22 Rehoming Centres in the UK and Ireland.
