A good friend of mine, Dom Hodgson, is doing a 500 mile cycle ride (the Tour De Rescue) all across the north of England and Wales this week. He’s stopping off at four places along the route to do talks with local dog trainers.
His amazing mission is to empty rescue centres. He says, “Rescue centres are a blight on our society. We can’t go on building ever more rescues to house ever more dogs. Dogs bring purpose, love and companionship to our lives, yet far too often they are given up on.”
Dom’s had three rescue dogs of his own and he used to walk dogs at his local rescue centre before starting his own dog walking/adventure business in 2011.
His aim with the Tour De Rescue is to highlight the work done by local rescue centres, and on the amazing dogs there that would make great family pets.
Almost everyone who gets a rescue dog or a puppy intends to keep that dog forever. Sadly many dogs are given up, not because they’re bad dogs, but because the new owners have struggled to give their dogs enough structure, exercise and stimulation, lack of which often leads to bored, destructive and difficult to manage dogs.
It’s all too easy to get a dog. You can wake up, decide you want a dog, check out Gumtree and go and buy a dog that very day. More responsible owners will research breeds to choose one that will best fit their lifestyle, then find a good breeder. Or they’ll go to a rescue centre and find a rescue dog to suit them. Good rescues will carefully match dogs to prospective owners to minimise the risk of that dog needing to be returned.
I’m on a mission too. Owners need practical and actionable advice that allows them to give their new dog what they need in a safe and stimulating way, so that they fit in perfectly to their new home. I’d love for all local dog owners to make an early New Year resolution – to learn more about being a great owner and how to have a fulfilling, satisfying life with their dog.
Let’s work together to stop dogs needing to go into rescue.
Keep training
Carol