The Dog's Trust

The Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League) is one of the oldest and largest animal welfare charities in the United Kingdom (founded in 1891). They are active in all sorts of areas – stopping cruelty to dogs, rescuing and re-homing dogs, prosecuting people who harm dogs, educating people about how to look after dogs, advising the government on dog issues, conducting research into dog behaviour etc. About sixteen thousand dogs are cared for every year by the Dogs Trust. Most of these dogs are looked after in a network of seventeen Re-Homing Centres, supported entirely by voluntary donations. No healthy dog is ever put down. England is known as "a nation of dog lovers" but the position of dogs is far from ideal. People who ill-treat dogs should be punished more severely; dog breeders need to be regulated more closely; and overseas countries need to be advised that the way dogs are treated around the world is an issue of British foreign policy concern. These are populist issues with wide public support, so it is surprising no main party has focused on dog welfare. More: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/