Who will care for your dog?
Over half (54%) of dog owners in the North East have not made any plans about who would take over ownership of their dog if the worst were to happen, according to data from our latest research.
The findings suggest owners could be putting their dogs in a vulnerable position by not making provisions for their care should they fall seriously ill or pass away, with almost a third (31%) of the region’s dog owners surveyed by the charity admitting that they have not even thought about what would happen in that scenario.
Worryingly, over two thirds (68%) of respondents in the North East also said that whilst they think they have a friend or family member who would take over ownership of the dog, they have not discussed it with the person in question – a cause for concern for the charity.
As a result we are urging the public to sign up to our free Canine Care Card Service, to ensure their dog can be cared for by the UK’s largest dog welfare charity at one of our state-of-the-art rehoming centres, should they become too ill to be able to keep them or pass away.
We are also encouraging dog owners to appoint a
“dog guardian”, this could be family member, friend or even a neighbour or vet who agrees to take care of your dog and sign over your dog to Dogs Trust in the interim should you no longer be able to.
Dogs Trust also recommends updating your will to include your Canine Care Card information and notifying friends and family of your wishes to ensure the process is dealt with as smoothly as possible when the time comes.
Recent world events have shown that we never know what is around the corner and that life can be unpredictable.
As a nation of dog lovers, we know the little quirks that make our dogs unique and I for one enjoy having the peace of mind that if the time ever comes when I can’t be with my dog, Dogs Trust is the next best place for her to be and they will never put a healthy dog down.
“We are also encouraging dog owners to appoint a ‘dog
guardian’.”
Sue Embleton, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Darlington.