A Beautiful Picture of a Princess and a Dog

Dogs Trust canine residents were specially groomed and on their best behaviour when HRH The Princess Royal visited Dogs Trust’s Rehoming Centre in Snetterton earlier today.

Princess Anne was keen to see how the centre has developed since her last visit in July 2001 when she officially opened it.

During her visit, HRH The Princess Royal was given a guided tour of the centre by Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, and Rehoming Centre Manager, Diane McLelland-Taylor. She was also given the opportunity to meet with staff and some of the centre’s 80 stray and abandoned canine residents.

The focus of the visit was to observe the centre’s many innovative facilities and recent improvements and to discuss the impact the recession has had on rehoming.

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive Dogs Trust, commented: “We were thrilled to host HRH The Princess Royal again – the staff and dogs were very excited. This was the ideal opportunity to show Her Royal Highness our much improved, state-of-the-art Rehoming Centre including the innovative Chill Out Zone and our new themed compound areas.”

Diane McLelland Taylor, Rehoming Centre Manager, explained: “Since the official opening in 2001, the centre has successfully rehomed 4,300 dogs across a wide area of eastern England.

Sadly, we’ve also been affected by the ongoing recession with increased calls, longer waiting lists and a worrying number of dogs that have been abandoned on our doorstep. As a dog lover, I am sure that Her Royal Highness was interested to learn how we are coping with the influx of dogs and worried calls from members of the public.”

Dogs Trust Chairman, Philip Daubeny, and the Chairman of Breckland Council were also present during the royal visit.

Innovative facilities at Dogs Trust Snetterton

In 2001, the Rehoming Centre opened with a radical new design including 26 kennels, three additional puppy kennels and two isolation kennels for sick dogs.

An additional new ‘Finders Keepers’ block was built in 2006 and specially designed to reduce the transmission of infection amongst dogs.

Now eight years on the centre also boasts an innovative Chill Out Zone for stressed dogs, multiple themed compound areas including a seaside and countryside ‘break out’ area, and colourful hand painted murals.

The effects of the recession

The downturn in the economy has been felt at the Rehoming Centre. In the last three months alone, a worrying number of dogs have been left tied to the front gate including two Rottweilers called Pilgrim and Rocky.

In the last 18 months, waiting lists have considerably increased, doubling in size from three months to six months. Calls from worried members of the public have also doubled in recent months. Centre staff are now regularly providing practical advice and reassurance to dog owners who are concerned about money and fear they may have to give up their dog.