Dogs Trust Ilfracombe will lose half of its staff in charity shake up

Staffing at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe will be halved once it completes the transition from rehoming centre to foster hub.

Dogs Trust has provided more information to the Gazette on how plans to refocus and adapt its services will affect the 31 staff and the dogs at its only North Devon centre, on the main road between Braunton and Ilfracombe.

Rather than a site full of dogs in kennels, Ilfracombe will become a foster hub with more animals looked after by foster carers, because the charity says many have a better outcome if rehomed through fostering.

However it has also said as more and more people give up their pets it has led to a crisis that put the charity’s services and resources under ever greater pressure.

Dogs Trust told the Gazette today (Friday, May 23) that Ilfracombe currently has 31 staff, which will become 15 once the transition is complete.

It previously said the 307 UK staff facing redundancy would be given the option to redeploy as well as training and support to try and help staff find other roles.

Locally, as well as concern for the loss of jobs, many people have asked what will happen to the dogs currently at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe.

In response, a charity spokesperson told us: “The welfare of dogs in our care remains our highest priority and we will ensure we continue to provide the highest standard of care to dogs at all three centres during this change.

“Prior to the transition of Ilfracombe to a foster hub, we aim to rehome as many dogs as possible. We will then review the needs of every remaining dog in our care, including sponsor dogs and do our very best to make sure they are transferred to a new centre within our network where they will get the right care and support for them.

“We are hoping that our foster carers at all three sites continue to foster dogs in our care supported by the foster services at the centres.”

The proposals were first announced in March but Dogs Trust confirmed on May 22 that following a 45-day staff consultation they would be going ahead.

The Ilfracombe transition is expected to begin in the middle of this year and take around three months.

The measures in full

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.