Dogs Trust Reviews

Name: Dogs Trust
Rating: 1.75

1.8 Rating 109 Reviews

17 %

of reviewers recommend Dogs Trust

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1.8

Based on 109 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Postal Service, Own Driver
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Live Chat, Telephone, Email
Queries Resolved In	Over A Week

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Dogs Trust 5 star review on 26th January 2025

William And Toney

Dogs Trust 1 star review on 5th March 2024

Scarred For Life

Dogs Trust 5 star review on 21st November 2023

Jacqueline Cuthbert

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“rang up this morning for appointment at blackburn my little yorkie went out side and came in crying he was shaking and when I picked him up he was crying cant touch his leg. you can chat on line now as you cant book an app on the phone such a cold response said I would have to ring Bolton as they have none there and sounds like he needs pain killers how can you say that without seeing him. my poor baby yorkie”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 month ago

“Disgusting charity. About to receive a huge bequeath but couldn’t help with 4 dogs.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago

“I cannot recommend to anyone that they attempt to adopt a dog from The Dogs Trust. You can no longer visit the centre and view and meet the dogs they have, have a chat with staff about suitability or any of that. It`s all online now, fill out a basic form and they will magically find the right dog for you. Except that they don`t, won`t or can`t and they will leave you in limbo without any communication for three months and then send you a generic email asking if you want to re apply. I have thought about getting another dog, taken my time and made a decision to adopt. I have applied and then they just dangle you for three long months and come up with nothing. I`m three months down the line, still no dog that I have and still want after 3 months, but it`s 3 months of wanting and waiting for absolutely nothing. I can see the possible dogs I would like online, there are 22 of them in my favourites. Can I meet them? No No No Someone please explain how I am not near the top of any list of potential adopters. Had Border Collies for the last 25 years, have had problem rescues before, have had three dogs at the same time before, have countryside all around me, own house and secure garden, access to fenced dog areas, I drive, I am retired, financially independent, home all day, out with my dog/s at least 3 hours a day and socialise my dogs. I have absolutely no idea why they could not even recommend a single dog for me ( and I put on the form any medium size dog considered) in 3 months of waiting and that I was willing to travel to other Dogs Trust centres. This has been an upsetting experience for me and my thoughts are more for that lonely dog sitting in a pen at a Dogs Trust centre that could have been in a loving home for the last 3 months. Do better Dogs Trust, your reputation amongst dog lovers is declining fast.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago

“Lots of new vans nice big extensions & new buildings, but anyone I talk to says near on impossible to adopt a dog, perhaps more effort in helping dogs than expanding an empire!”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 months ago

“I'm extremely upset and frustrated by the way Dogs Trust operate nowadays. When we adopted from them before, it was just a matter of choosing the dog you liked the look of, applying, meeting, and if you both clicked with each other, home check and off you go. Forward 15 years later when our dear old boy has passed away, we're in the position to adopt again. I see a lovely dog I like the look of, video, pictures and description are encouraging. I'm prepared to drive a long way for a meet. But DT don't want to do it like that. You have to fill in an application form for the 'type' of dog you are looking for and then THEY decide whether you are suitable or not. After answering all their questions, I wanted to discuss the dog I was interested in, only for them to tell me the dog had been returned 3 times, had a history of biting, was a nervous wreck, didn't like people and despite us having a quiet home in the country we would not be suitable! What upsets me is that they use cute videos, pictures and positive write-ups to lure you in to applying, then you give them information which you believe is pertinent to that dog, only for them to apply it as a broad-based, box ticking process for THEM to match you up to something else! I don't like to be sold to in this way. I like to feel a connection with a dog the old-fashioned way. I made a donation to DT in memory of my old dog. But I won't adopt from them again while they use these methods.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 months ago

“I have 3 separate times to adopted a dog show interest in a dog then they ring you and totally put you of the dog with stupid excuses from my experience it takes time for a dog to get use to it new surroundings and the new owner I got to say the dog trust are totally useless with excuses”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 months ago

“Friday 23/8/2024 turned up about 7 minutes after they have shut in Abergavenny but a woman was vacuuming we had some lovely stuff in carrier bags the woman said to us don't do this again to us twice we not 5 years of age I have given them £1000.00 in one go in the pass and donate my wifes funeral donation but never again. My wife said if I sell one of the houses will I give them 10% of the sale money I have sold one house for £340.000 i will now on donate this money too a more rewarding animal trust and never give to dogs trust again”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 months ago

“In December 2022 I adopted an older dog from Dogs Trust after a 3 months process of several visits to their place and they brought him to my home a couple of times. In mid July this year I was taken to hospital by ambulance. I managed to find kennels quite near my home who agreed to take my dog for 8 days (couldn't keep him any longer as they were closing for a holiday). Unfortunately my condition worsened and I was transferred to a bigger hospital in a city quite far from home. After 8 days in the kennels he came out with severe diarrhoea and stomach problems. No other kennels or "dog fosterers" would take him. As a last resort a family member asked Dogs Trust to take him back temporarily. They eventually agreed and said I had 48 hours within which to collect him. This was impossible as I was still in hospital far away, awaiting a major operation. They then said he would be re-advertised on their website and I would have to reapply if I wanted him back. After they had him 4 days I got a rather "cold" phone call late afternoon the day before my op, during which they said my beautiful little dog would be euthanised the next day. I literally begged them not to do it and offered to pay vet bills, accommodation etc. I was told "The decision has been made." I was then practically accused of not looking after him properly as my local Vet records stated that they had recommended Metacam medication for his stiff joints and I hadn't bought it. However I WAS buying medication elsewhere and he was happily taking it before he went into kennels. I can only surmise that because he was 13 they assumed that no-one else would want to rehome him. He had been with Dogs Trust for 18 months before I got him and he was very happy living with me and he made me very happy too. I am utterly devastated that my dog lost his life and don't feel there was much in the way of compassion. I had recently signed up for the new Dogs Trust lottery and have now cancelled my direct debit. I will never support this so called "charity" again. They weren't very charitable with me or my poor little dog.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 months ago

“totally useless. went to visit to find new homes for dogs into a dog loving family. Girls/ladies on front desk could not have been more disinterested. they were too busy talking about local pub get together that night. They asked us to fill an online form in which we did. 30 days later we had a call from someone who kept asking stupid questions about our requirements which were all on the form. I fear for dogs here who will not be housed with good homes due to the total disinterest in the staff”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 months ago

“Drove 90 mins with my dog for an assessment at 10.30am,5 mins after arriving he had a vet check,then they tried the kennel,my dog who is 10 months was deemed unsuitable for a kennel as they said he was too young and barked while he was in there for 10 minutes,they didn't put any of his home items in there to make it more familiar, and obviously he needed to have a run after being in the car for so long,no common sense used at the time and we took him back home,I think they decided he was going to be too noisy in kennels.no advice after with alternative help,just said he's a lovely dog but to look for foster placements or breed specific help,he's a heinz 57 what one of his many breeds do I contact. Disappointing they didn't really try.”

Helpful Report

Posted 9 months ago

“Dogs trust say they never put a healthy dog down. This is a total lie. They do and regularly. They are no longer a caring charity and dogs are just a commodity. It is a business not a dog rescue. The canine carers actually do care. It's the local managers who run it like a business and don't care about the dogs. At my local centre there isn't even water bowls in reception for the dogs. There a sign saying if your fog needs water ask for some???? High turn off of staff because of poor management and staff off sick with stress. Use small local charities where they actually care for the dogs.”

Helpful Report

Posted 10 months ago

“What a shambles.. You cant PICK a dog you would like.. They think they know better and actually look down on you. I recently showed interesr in one of their dogs after visiting. I have 20 years experience with this breed and that is not even taken in to account. The dog I was interested in has been in their property for some time according to them. Any wonder. They said the dog doesnt socialise with other dogs etc but walks well with other dog companions. Contradictory. So many of their dogs state No Children or Any other dogs or Pets... They dont have a clue bssed on my interaction with them.”

Helpful Report

Posted 10 months ago

“Dogs trust Canterbury assured us we had a healthy dog, only to discover 1st trip to vets for a welcome visit , flea and worming she has a heart murmur. Apparently only detected on occasions so all 3/4 checks in their care missed. Took so long to sort the months insurance they gave us ran out. Been stiched up. Poor dog we rehomed is very much loved, shame dogs trust have every excuse to admit fault.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Why can't you choose a dog that would suit you? We did in the past and had 2 lovely dogs from them. After waiting 6 months we gave up and went to another charity. We chose our dog and successfully took her home. No wonder so many dogs still in your centres.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Rude stand-of-ish staff Apparently not suitable to adopt the breed of choice (not specific dog) due to existing cat... Cat Is dog friendly & lives with dog atm, willing to wait for cat friendly dog... reply "unlikely we'll get one thats ok with cats"”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“They give dangerous large dogs to incompetent idiots! I live in an area that has large amount of good dog owners. The Dogs Trust have given a large mastiff dog to an ex-army dog trainer who has made the dog incredibly dangerous. Well done on your vetting. He uses the freebie collar on a dog that is 50kg plus, the dog pulls so hard that it chokes itself he uses a retractable lead and he has now idea on how to train a dog. I have seen Chav's and Roadman's with better trained dogs. Just because someone says something doesn't mean that they can actually do it. The dog and owner/handler makes locals run out of the local dog park. I tried to offer some advice as I have had experience with larger dogs but the gentleman in question told me that it went against Dogs Trust training. When the dog acts dangerous and aggressively he doesn't acknowledge that the dog or himself are in the wrong BUT gives the dog treats and fuss which tells the dog that what it is doing is right. This is the reason that people will leave an area in a public park designated for dogs under control when he arrives with his dangerous dog with the Dogs Trust collar. Great advert for the Dogs Trust!!! Once again no thought for the general public. If I had to give up my dog I wouldn't give these idiots my dog as they would give them to anyone who hasn't got any idea of how to handle a dog. If you have to give up your dog don't give them to these idiots. Put it down it will be safer for your dog as some nut job will probably end up with your beloved dog. I am not saying this lightly. I once believed in the dogs trust but now I believe that it is a charity that is a pyramid scam paying the people at the top large amounts of money and giving dogs to people who bring the worst out in dogs. If my dog gets attacked by this idiots dog I will hold the dogs trust liable for it's ability to give dogs to nutters.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Regrettably the system requires at least one star. I fostered a dog through the Dogs Trust. The Dogs Trust employee was late for every single monthly home visit due to various dramas and the visits were interrupted by calls. I accepted they must be really busy, so imagine my surprise when I learnt after 3 months that two Dogs Trust employees were responsible for just 10 dogs between them. I contacted them once in three months, no drama from one of the ten dogs! I learnt that most of the foster carers had never had a dog so knew nothing at all. Despite my vast experience with dogs I was parented constantly about what I should be doing (the advice made the issues worse and the employee conceded I probably knew better because I lived with the dog!). At a monthly home visit I was told what a great job I was doing. I had been honest about an incident that occurred several weeks previously, a photo taken same day that I hadn't been aware of in a private group on Facebook, I heard about it an hour later and the post was deleted. I reassured the employee that it was in the past and demonstrated my understanding of how important confidentiality is. An hour after the home visit I received a call from the same employee asking me for details of the person who had posted the photo, I was working in heavy rain and explained I'd find out details later, it wasn't a good time. An hour later I'm told the dog was being taken away. That poor little dog, already pushed from pillar to post and spent 4 months in kennels before he came to me, had just adapted to his new life and they took him away because I couldn't jump when they wanted me too. I was informed by another employee who collected the dog that they had done a risk assessment and made the decision. WHAT RISK? And how can a risk assessment be complete without input from the foster carer? It was clear that their insecure egos were more important than the wellbeing of a dog, that wielding that tiny bit of power was more important to them. An absolute disgrace, effectively they're being paid to damage dogs. I haven't got a single good word to say about them.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I adopted a dog from Dogs Trust in October 2023, he had to be returned after 40 days for biting me 3 times, I asked for him to be returned after the second biting but was talked into trying again, then he bit me again. He went back and I have recently found him back on the rehoming site with the same description that led me to rehome him. I got in touch with them immediately with my worries for anyone who rehomed him but they have ignored me.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“BE WARNED The 2 lovely placid old lady dogs I adopted have to go back. DT had failed to notice iin the 3-4 months they had the dogs in their care that one had an extremely agressive trait towards other dogs on leads. This has resulted in me being scarred for life. I only had the well behaved old ladies 2 nights - and on the next day one simply flew at a passing dog on a lead. I was pulled over and ambulanced to hospital with head and facial injuries. I live alone. Did DT come to my rescue? Not a bit of it. Their Post Adoption Help line had only a recorded message. They are going to take the poor dogs back after initisally telling me they wouldn't. Very upsetting experience and the dogs and I have been seriously let down.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“We adopted a dog from dogs trust in Cardiff. We understood that there were some issues with him, we were patient, learned things about him as we went along. We had an incident with one of their vets where he bit her, she then waited three months to report this to police, in that time we worked hard with him to learn more about his triggers, I contacted dogs trust in regards to police where I was told more information about his background. Information they did not provide when we enquired about him. We then a few months later had another incident with him and our cat, we again contacted dogs trust who again provided more information that we were not given yet again. Unfortunately we had another incident where he went for my son and when we informed dogs trust we were again told more information. This poor dog had been in a crate that was too small, not outside much, been around domestic violence and with drug dealers. NONE of which was shared with us. We knew we had some work as he was nervous if men but we tried. It was heartbreaking taking him back but we had no choice. After the last incident and the lady said stuff i told her we were never told this and she tried to back track. They are putting peoples lives at risk and putting dogs through more trauma”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

Dogs Trust is rated 1.8 based on 109 reviews