West Sussex Dog Charity Launches Christmas Sponsorship Program

A dog rehoming facility located in West Sussex is appealing to the public for support for its animals, offering a way to help without needing to provide a permanent home. The Dogs Trust’s Shoreham branch has reported receiving over 46,000 calls this year requesting rehoming assistance, a volume it states significantly surpasses its operational capacity. In response, the charity has initiated a sponsorship program designed to help cover the expenses associated with caring for the dogs under its protection. Tom Gray, a kennel supervisor at Dogs Trust, commented: “It’s a great gift to give someone over Christmas. It’s £1 a week and helps support over 1,600 dogs across the whole trust.” In exchange for their contribution, sponsors are promised a note from their sponsored dog, a magnet, a sticker, and periodic updates about the animal throughout the year. A total of 21 dogs nationwide are available for sponsorship. Among them, Shoreham’s 10-year-old terrier-cross named Farley has proven particularly popular, having already accumulated dozens of letters and cards from his sponsors. However, Tom informed BBC South East Today that further efforts are still required. He stated: “Covid and the financial crisis has created this perfect storm, meaning a lot more dogs are coming in with more complex behavioural problems.” He added: “The pressures on us have increased astronomically.” For further updates, individuals can follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. This content is copyrighted by BBC 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material on external websites and provides information on its external linking policy.