Dogs Trust Newbury to become dedicated foster centre after Dogs Trust charity finishes consultation into proposed changes to the way it operates

Newbury’s Dogs Trust will not be closed, we can reveal.

In April we reported how the rehoming centre in Hamstead Marshall could be shut if the charity’s proposed refocus got the go-ahead.

Dogs Trust had announced that it planned to change the way it operates in response to “the perfect storm that is devastating dog welfare” and it began a consultation into the proposed changes.

That consultation has now ended and the charity, which employs 1,765 staff, has said that Newbury will become a dedicated foster centre.

This is an increase to the charity’s foster network, with Bridgend and Ilfracombe also named as foster centres, helping it to care for more dogs.

Owen Sharp, CEO at Dogs Trust, said: “After a period of listening carefully to our staff and volunteers’ voices, feedback and interests, we have concluded our consultation, and we are ready to move to the next stage.

“Dogs Trust needs to evolve its operations to meet the challenges of the current environment and to increase our impact.

“These changes will enable Dogs Trust to help even more dogs in the UK and around the world, while ensuring our financial sustainability in the long term.

“By strengthening our support for dogs, their owners, and our communities, we aim to be there when dogs need us most, ensuring a brighter future.

“This has been a very challenging time for everyone, and I want to acknowledge the compassion and understanding our colleagues have shown throughout this period.”

The charity said it will now provide more intensive support and expertise for dogs in its care and focus its prevention work on helping owners avoid the need to give up their dog, by providing accessible support for behaviour problems.

As a result of the changes 307 roles will be at risk of redundancy, but the charity said there will be at least 290 redeployment opportunities once the changes have been made, which it hopes will minimise redundancies.

It also said it has put a range of training and support in place to help as many members of staff as possible secure new roles within Dogs Trust.

It said the changes it will now put in place will mean it can help 27% more dogs by 2027 by reducing the time they spend in its care and support 57,000 owners a year by 2026 through “integrated in-person and digital behaviour services”.