Responsible dog owners needed in Ballymena this National Pet Month

by Gráinne Connolly

Dogs Trust Ballymena offer advice on responsible dog ownership in a bid to rehome canine residents

April marks the beginning of National Pet Month and to honour this widely recognised awareness month, Dogs Trust Ballymena are promoting responsible dog ownership and encouraging informed potential dog owners to come forward and give loving homes to some of the special canine residents at its rehoming centre in Ballymena.

They've put together some information on their website for anyone thinking about getting a new pet, including a checklist for first time dog owners. 

This allows them to keep track of things they'll need to be aware of, including: 

• getting pet insurance
   
• making sure your dog has a bed and gets daily walks
   
• receives regular meals and a balanced diet
   
• vaccinations and the legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped
   
• possible training needs.

Dogs Trust has created a guide on responsible dog ownership, available in the following link: 

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/dog10033%20-%20responsible%20dog%20owners%20booklet%20v5.1.pdf
 

Oonagh Phillips, Rehoming Centre Manager at Dogs Trust Ballymena, said:

“At Dogs Trust we are always on the look out for dog owners who either have experience of caring for dogs or have done their research before getting a pet.

"A dog is for life and adopting a rescue dog is very rewarding, however it is important that families don’t rush into getting a dog before understanding the level of care involved and the costs associated with owning a dog.

“There are plenty of dogs in our care, all of whom need loving new homes with well prepared and caring owners. We hope that before National Pet Month is over we will have successfully matched each of them up with their special someone.”
 

Some of the dogs currently waiting on their forever homes include:

 Axel

This three-year-old Weimaraner is a gorgeous big silly boy, who loves getting out to play. He has boundless energy so would prefer an active family who are willing to keep him physically and mentally stimulated – as he is a fast learner too. He would prefer to be the only pet in the household and as he is very strong, if going to a family with children, would be best suited to home with teenagers.

Carly

Carly is a lively and affectionate five-year-old Hound cross, who is looking for an adult only home with no other pets. As she is a Hound Carly likes to keep her nose to the ground and follows it everywhere she goes. This is another dog with lots of energy and will play with her toys all day.

Danny

Sociable young fellow Danny is a two-year-old German Shepherd cross who is very playful and could live with children over the age of eight. He loves human companionship but equally also doesn’t mind  time on his own. Although he would prefer to be the only dog in the family home, Danny could potentially be introduced to other respectful dogs.

Luna

This Labrador cross absolutely loves human companionship, especially if it involves playing fetch with a ball. Luna is a more established character at the age of six and could potentially live with other dogs and children over the age of 12.
 

If you would like to know more about any of the wonderful dogs looking for a home at Dogs Trust Ballymena, get in touch on 0300 303 0292 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/our-centres/ballymena