Shropshire Magazine

Behaviourist Steve Goward puts one of his charges through his paces.

Beagles and borzois, dalmations and dachshunds, they’ve all passed through the doors at Roden. Shirley Tart talks to some pedigree people at the rescue centre. Pictures: Russell Davies

Kangaroo, an eight-week-old Labrador cross.

Oh weren’t they cute? But all those Disney films showing enchanting puppies or kittens in baskets being handed over at Christmas often did the real things no favours at all. Now, everyone concerned with animal welfare will plead – don’t give a new pet as a seasonal gift.

The Dogs Trust in particular lives its famous slogan: A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas.

They have all seen too many cuddly pups hoping for a loving home, delivered on Christmas Day only to be out in the cold (literally) before the new year. Or dogs which have been part of the family callously dumped in favour of a newcomer.

It’s too heartbreaking for words.

Though it’s not all like that. Many animals are taken to the rescue centres by owners who can’t keep them for a variety of reasons; maybe losing their job, or their home – and there will usually be a dog or two ‘in care’ because a distraught owner is ill or in hospital.

Talking of slogans, there is also justifiable pride in the sentence we devotees spot at Dogs Trust with a sigh of relief: ‘We never destroy a healthy dog’.

That’s the pledge of the trust, once the National Canine Defence League and the country’s biggest dog welfare charity. It is of course well known to Shropshire dog lovers who support its amazing work at Roden, the third largest and probably the busiest of all the trust’s centres.

Founded in 1891, the charity has always campaigned on dog welfare-related issues to ensure a safe and happy future for our four-legged friends.

Noble

The Shropshire complex, set in lovely countryside, continues these noble traditions, caring as it does for more dogs than it sometimes has room for. But caring all the same. And often looking after otherwise unwanted and bewildered former pets in kennels which might boast saggy sofas or baggy chairs but perfect doggy furniture for all that.

Manager Louise Campbell with terriers Hiccup and Pye.

Like many people, we have rescued from Roden. Sam was nearly five, a handsome, tri-colour springer spaniel who joined our springer girls Holly and Daisy, and after early settling-in dramas became their devoted companion.

After the girls had both died, he was a lonely soul and we took on a pair of sisters, great, great nieces of Daisy. Sam played grandad to them and despite a serious eye problem which meant major surgery and many trips to the animal eye hospital at Leominster, he lived until the pups were three. As with the others, we all missed him dreadfully. We were so glad we went to Roden and gave Sam his chance.

Many thousands of people feel like that and so many dogs who have been lost, dumped, abused and then saved by Dogs Trust, go to good and loving homes thanks to these dedicated people.

If some poor inmate never gets chosen, those looking after him make sure that he is loved, fed and comfortable for the rest of his life.

And of course, we can all join the sponsor scheme. Just ask Mr Magoo about that. He is such a bright lurcher with his own posh chair that you really could believe he’s the boss. And in a way, he is!

Mr M is a sponsor dog who is cared for by donations from supporters across the country. He’s been out to homes several times, not entirely successfully, and the Dogs Trust is there for him when it doesn’t quite work out.

An hour or two with manager Louise Campbell underlines that their care and work is far, far more than simply linking abandoned dogs with likely people.

She says: “In Mr Magoo’s case, we haven’t given up hope that we can find him the right home. But in the meantime, he gets lots of visitors, which he absolutely loves.”

And everyone absolutely loves him. He was star of the show recently when a group of veterinary nursing students from Harper Adams College at Edgmond chose the Roden canine clientele for a sponsored dog walk during National Veterinary Nursing Week.

Mr Magoo.

And in a way Mr Magoo is an example of all that the Dogs Trust tries to do. To take in, care for but ultimately try to rehome dogs abandoned, lost or with them because owners have died or circumstances have vastly changed.

Louise says: “When people bring an animal to us, we always think ‘well at least they did that’; you really do need to be non-judgmental. We also try to help dogs in areas of the country where things are hardest for them.”

And while it is impossible not to be angry and upset at the way some poor animals are dumped or ill-treated, Louise and her staff take the positive action of doing what they can to pick up the pieces.

Steve Goward heads up a behavioural team, tested out at Roden and designed to help dogs whose problems mean difficulty in rehoming. They will also work with owners who have taken on a dog, and a year after the experiment began the success rate was fantastic.

Immersed

Louise has been manager at Roden for three-and-a-half years and is totally immersed in the work. She says: “We lived in Wales where my husband was a farrier, and while I had a huge equine background and had always kept dogs I honestly didn’t think I’d get the job. But the more I learned about it, the more I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

And while she has already known the tears as well as the smiles of Roden life, she wouldn’t change what she now does – a feeling common to most who work for this or similar charities, paid staff and volunteers.

Talking of which, the Roden centre has 32 full- or part-time staff and many devoted volunteers but would always like to hear from more.

They will walk the dogs, spend time with them and cheerfully help with many of the routine jobs needed to keep those tails wagging!

By the beginning of November, the centre had rehomed 1,455 dogs this year, which is marvellous. But it is ongoing, and for those poor animals who are not so fortunate, visits, treats and a little extra love are much appreciated.

Louise is also so grateful for fundraisers, from little children selling their own toys and older people organising local events to the bigger fundraisers which help so much. And she smiles as she says: “One special memory is of an elderly couple who chose a dog but for some reason he couldn’t go to them right away. So they visited every day, would bring their sandwiches and walk around with him. It was such a commitment before they could take him home.”

There are miles of smiles when it works out like that.

But while the centre loves to hear from those who want to offer a dog a home, this month they would rather everyone now waits until after Christmas.

Of course there is the despair of knowing that puppies given as presents will become frightened little casualties by January. Or the old dog kicked out for the new one. That’s the saddest side of caring. And that’s why they need our help and support, in giving a home to a dog somebody didn’t want, raising a few bob for the work of the trust, maybe visiting or sponsoring an animal.

So that puppies, young dogs anxious to please, old ones who need special love, all have that chance of a happier new year!

• Call Dogs Trust Roden on 01952 770225 or click here to visit the Dogs Trust Roden website.