I recently visited the Dogs Trust Kenilworth rehoming centre in Honiley, and learned about the good work they do promoting responsible dog ownership and finding homes for the dogs in their care.
Dogs Trust Kenilworth is their largest rehoming centre in the country and cares for around 180 dogs at any one time, from Warwickshire and all over the West Midlands. The Honiley centre was also one of the first centres in the country to benefit from a major refit of Dogs Trust properties. There is plenty of open space for dogs to get exercise, not to mention the surrounding country roads where volunteers can take the canine residents for good long walks. The dog’s pens are designed to ensure dogs are not always within each other’s sight lines, which makes for a much calmer stay for the dogs. You can hear this when you visit the centre, as the constant barking you expect from such places is a much rarer occurrence.
Whilst Dogs Trust aim to make every dog’s stay as comfortable as possible, it is only meant to be a temporary residence. The average stay is around 39 days, with the majority of dogs homed within six months, and those who take a little longer may be moved to other centres to give them a chance in a different area. They also have a network of foster homes, so dogs can experience a proper home environment if they do not enjoy kennel life.
Dogs Trust do not destroy dogs unnecessarily, and will not let a dog leave unless they are certain they are going to a good home. It is fantastic to see how hard they work to ensure that all of the dogs in their care are incredibly well looked after. I was impressed by the passion and enthusiasm that Dogs Trust staff have for the well-being of their canine residents and the way they go above and beyond to rehome so many unwanted dogs across Warwickshire.
If you want a new dog you can contact the rehoming centre on 0300 303 0292, or if you just love dogs they are always looking for volunteers.
You can find more information on their website: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/our-centres/kenilworth/