Redundancies possible as Dogs Trust Ilfracombe plans confirmed

Dogs Trust Ilfracombe will change from a rehoming centre to a foster hub following a review of services, the charity has confirmed today (Thursday, May 22).

Up to 307 roles are at risk of redundancy across the charity nationwide as it prepares to transition three rehoming centres including Ilfracombe into foster centres following the end of a staff consultation.

As yet there are no details on how many Ilfracombe staff might be affected, but the charity has said it will be offering some 290 ‘redeployment opportunities’ as well as training and support to try and help staff find other roles within Dogs Trust.

The Gazette has been told it is likely the transition process will begin around the middle of this year and take at least three months to complete.

The charity said the process for handing over a dog will remain the same; people can call 0300 303 2188, or complete a form on the Dogs Trust website.

The proposals were announced in March and Dogs Trust says the strategy is aimed at helping more dogs because many do not thrive in kennels and have a better outcome through its fostering programmes as well as helping more owners to avoid giving up their dogs.

When the proposals were first announced, Dogs Trust also said more people were having to give up their pets, leading to a crisis that put the charity’s services under more pressure and it needed to refocus and adapt the services it offers.

The plans to change the Ilfracombe centre near West Down to a foster centre provoked huge concern in North Devon as people feared dogs would suffer or be put to sleep, but Dogs Trust previously told the Gazette it would never euthanise a healthy dog.

The changes will see rehoming centres at Bridgend and Ilfracombe become foster hubs. Following feedback during the consultation, the Newbury centre will now also transition into a foster hub, instead of closing.

Dogs Trust said it will stop puppy and adolescent Dog School classes, instead providing support through an ‘integrated digital and in-person behaviour service’.

It will combine its Post Adoption Support Behaviour Officers and Behaviour Support Line teams as part of the behaviour service, which will include clinical animal behaviourists, behaviour coaches and a telephone support line.

Education services will be transitioned online instead of in-person.

The charity will create a new Veterinary and Welfare department, combining behavioural expertise, clinical veterinary standards and policy.

By doing this Dogs Trust says it will help 27% more dogs by 2027, by reducing the time dogs spend in its care and expanding its foster care and Homestay programme.

It says it will support more dog owners directly through its integrated in-person and digital behaviour services, helping 57,000 a year by 2026.

It plans to help ‘millions of people’ access prevention support 24/7 through its new digital behaviour service.

The measures it said would also help many more dogs overseas and work towards eradicating dog-mediated rabies.

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.”