We knew that times were hard for many dog owners in our communities, and especially for people dealing with financial hardship, navigating issues with mental or physical health, or facing issues with housing or homelessness. That’s why Hope in the Community offers friendly, accessible, support to dog owners who were struggling, in local venues where they feel comfortable. 

To meet this need, we have been delivering pop-up outreach events across our pilot area of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and the Western Vale of Glamorgan. We have had such a warm welcome from our community partners, such as Merthyr Hope Church Pantry, Gellideg Foundation, Manage Money Wales C.I.C in Porth, Blackmill Youth and community Centre, Mental Health Matters Wales in Bridgend and Pet Food Bank in Barry – to name a few. 

During the events people can get free, expert advice on a range of dog welfare and behaviour issues from our wonderful Community Support Officer, or from our amazing Mobivet Vet Nurse. We can also provide key equipment like leads, harnesses, grooming kit and enrichment toys, to people who need it, to help them keep their furry family members healthy and happy.

We have felt really lucky to talk to so many committed and passionate owners through our outreach work. We have been struck by how loved our community dogs are and how enthusiastic people are to learn more about how to be the best guardian possible.

Many of the issues we have helped to tackle have been behavioural. Behaviours like pulling on the lead, barking and jumping up might seem minor, but when they start impacting an owner’s ability to get out and about, or just be able to enjoy life with their dog, they can quickly become problematic if they are not properly understood or addressed. At Hope Rescue, we always advocate for a positive-reinforcement approach to training, which rewards dogs for showing us the behaviours we like. Through our Hope in the Community consultations, we aim to give our clients the knowledge, confidence and tools they need to build a positive relationship with their dog,

Other owners have been worried about their dog’s health. We have come across issues related to recurring ear infections, unexplained lumps and bumps, dental hygiene and questions about neutering. Unfortunately, at the moment, many members of our community are struggling to make ends meet and so getting proper advice from a veterinary professional is not something they can easily afford. Other owners we have met are simply too worried to take their dog to see a vet.

Our Community Support Officer not only helps people get expert advice, but also gives people reassurance about what action they should take to look after their pet’s welfare. 

We want to empower all dog owners in our communities to become great dog guardians, regardless of their circumstances, and so we offer all our outreach support free of charge. The only thing we ask from our clients is that they make a ‘Canine Commitment’ – a written promise to their pet and themselves that reflects how they are going to put our advice into action. Here are some great examples: 

“I will try to listen to my dog and help him out when he is scared by stopping the scary thing”

“I will try to help him like his muzzle by showing it to him and giving him cheese”

“I will try to help him chill by not losing my temper”.

We have been so encouraged both by our clients and our community partners, over these first 3 months. We are delighted that in 100% of our client feedback, people felt that our support helped them better understand the needs of their dog and contributed positively towards their confidence and wellbeing. We’ve also had some lovely comments from our host organisations:

“Hope Rescue helped to reduce levels of worry and stress and offered practical advice with pet care”.

“We loved having you with us. You’d be very welcome to come back to a Food Pantry session to speak with more of our community members. Diolch.”

So far, we have supported 40 community dog owners across our 6 outreach events– and we are excited to say that we have more planned for the Autumn. Remember, if you would like to talk to us about delivering an outreach event in your community, please contact us at [email protected].