DOGS Trust today releases a new advert, featuring recordings from owners making the heart-breaking decision to hand over their dogs to the charity.

It is part of its ongoing Change the Tale campaign Dand aims to highlight the anguish of owners whose lives have been turned upside down by the pandemic. 

Between August and January, Dogs Trust, which has a rehoming centre at Harefield, saw a 41% increase in web traffic to its Giving Up Your Dog page compared to the six-month period beforehand. 

The Change the Tale ad features snippets of real phone calls made to Dogs Trust’s helpline from people needing to give up their dog. 

A video version has been released on social media https://youtu.be/ho_xY2-N6-4 

One dog the Harefield centre has helped is Arlo, who was just 15 weeks old when he arrived in September.

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His owner had bought him a few weeks earlier but realised he couldn’t cope with the demands of raising a puppy and contacted Dogs Trust.  

Rebecca King and her family took him home to foster that same day and he never left. Rebecca said: “Arlo captured our hearts within a few hours and we decided he would be staying.

“As he is a springer spaniel, he has boundless energy and a clever brain.

“It has taken lots of patience and hard work but he is becoming a very well-rounded and obedient dog who loves to learn and engage with the outside world."

Richard Moore, the Harefield manager, said: “It is heart-breaking to hear someone having to choose, for example, between a roof over their head, or their dog and we’d like to thank the people who made these calls for allowing us to share their story.”  

If you are struggling and need advice or support to give up your dog, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/changethetale