A dog rescue centre in Manchester has described itself as “the most depressing place on Earth” because of the amount of dogs being dumped – often due to financial issues.
in Sharston, says that its phone line is “ringing all day every day with people trying to leave their dogs due to worries about the cost of living”. This has led to heartbreaking moments, including a phone call about a four-month-old puppy the rescue was unable to take in – with the owner implying they were considering putting it to sleep.
“Previously this level of return would only have happened across two or three years”
Emma Billington, owner and manager of Dogs 4 Rescue, said, “In the last month, we have seen six dogs returned after we have homed them as people are worrying more about the cost following
“Previously this level of return would only have happened across two or three years. It has never been like this and we need urgent help of people coming forward to foster them – we’ll cover any fees – but we need to free up spaces.”
With the centre currently full with 50 dogs in their care, Emma is having to turn away dogs. Following a fundraiser, the charity has access to a new site which will open up a further 20 places immediately and will be fast-tracked to an additional 80 – but with so many dogs to care for at the original site, staff is having trouble to step away and set the new one up.
“We are pleading with everyone in the area to consider fostering our dogs, where we will cover any costs needed to help us,” Emma said.
“I love my job but this is the most depressing place on Earth at the moment”
Fostering will allow dogs to more easily prepare for their new life in a forever home, as well as giving rescue staff much-needed respite to get to work on the new rescue site.
“We believe that dogs are better in twos – they keep each other busy and entertained. If you have a dog already we have a matching service to make sure everyone gets on. We pay for any fees and also give you leads with ‘adopt me’ on, which we know people see in their own communities – helping them find their forever homes,” Emma says.
Emma continues “I love my job but this is the most depressing place on Earth at the moment. It is utterly soul-destroying because we know that we are having to turn away dogs that are going to be killed because there is nowhere for them to go.
“I have to be honest – I broke the other day. We had to turn away a four-month-old puppy who I know would ordinarily be picked up soon. The reality is that I know that little boy’s fate and I feel like I am failing them.”
“If there were measures to help then I imagine we’d see fewer dogs being dumped”
She adds, “People are worried – and I just wish the Government would act. The main worry people seem to have now is the cost of living – if there were measures to help then I imagine we’d see fewer dogs being dumped and our phones would hopefully stop ringing.
“I’d like Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, or Liz Truss to come and spend a day here and take some of the gut-wrenching calls we are to snap them into doing something.”