Description
Dogs Trust is a British dog welfare charity that takes in stray and unwanted dogs at its rehoming centres, finds them new homes, and never puts a healthy dog to sleep.
It has existed since 1891 and is registered in England and Wales and in Scotland (nos. 1167663 and SC053144). Last year, according to its website, it cared for 11,374 dogs without a home and found new homes for 10,023. It runs more than 20 rehoming centres across the UK. Besides rehoming, its Freedom Project fosters the dogs of people escaping domestic abuse, and its Hope Project helps homeless people keep their dogs. A phone line gives advice on behaviour problems.
Adopting a dog costs £300 in England, Wales and Scotland and £287.50 in Northern Ireland, where a dog licence is also needed. Every dog is checked by a vet, vaccinated, neutered, microchipped, wormed and treated for fleas before it goes home. Staff use behaviour and vet assessments to match dogs with owners, and an application stays open for three months.
Strengths
- Every dog leaves vaccinated, neutered and microchipped, which a private sale doesn’t guarantee.
- The charity doesn’t put healthy dogs to sleep, whatever their age or how long they wait.
- Its projects keep dogs with owners escaping abuse or living on the street.
Weaknesses
- Adopting costs £300, and in Northern Ireland a dog licence on top of the £287.50 fee.
- Matching through behaviour and vet assessments takes time, and an application lapses after three months.
- The centres are spread across the UK, and some people live far from the nearest one.
Who it is for
People in the UK who want a dog and are ready to adopt an adult or rescued dog rather than buy a puppy.
Sources
- Dogs Trust: home, about us, rehoming, non-destruction and intake policies (checked November 2026)
- Vet Times: Charity warns rehoming requests still soaring