{"id":92575,"date":"2025-02-11T14:38:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T14:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=92575"},"modified":"2025-02-11T15:22:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T15:22:57","slug":"new-kennels-will-bring-relief-to-dogs-home-working-to-keep-pets-off-the-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2025\/02\/11\/new-kennels-will-bring-relief-to-dogs-home-working-to-keep-pets-off-the-streets\/","title":{"rendered":"New kennels will bring relief to dogs home working to keep pets off the streets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s going to be a game changer, says manager with ‘the best job on Cardiff council’<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

NEW kennels are hoped to bring much needed relief to Cardiff Dogs Home, which is currently receiving about 40 requests a week to house new dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work on the kennel extension is expected to start next month and for Maria Bailie, manager of the council-run facility, the timing could not be better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its peak last year, the home was keeping dogs in their corridors, and even the staff office, as well as having a number of others in foster care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe new kennels will be quieter. They\u2019ll have temperature control and noise control. Fewer dogs will be disturbed when we\u2019re taking other dogs out. It\u2019s going to be a game changer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the moment, if we get a 40kg dog, most of our kennels aren\u2019t big enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past year, the home has taken in 500 dogs. Demand for spaces has remained high since 2022, something Ms Bailie blames on the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of people got dogs and gave them fantastic homes, but we see the other end of it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppies bought during Covid became unmanageable for some people as they grew. Owners went back to work and some dogs raised during lockdown didn’t learn how to mix, leading to behavioural problems down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost of living crisis has also played its part.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf people can\u2019t afford pet insurance, which is not cheap, they can\u2019t afford vet bills. Then they want to give their dogs up, and it\u2019s pricing people out on lower incomes,\u201d said Ms Bailie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers support the work of the dogs’ home, alongside the affiliated Rescue Hotel charity, which raises money and generates publicity by collaborating with celebrity ambassadors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working from home, volunteer Zara Cosslett regularly uses her lunch breaks to take the home\u2019s dogs on walks and even takes half days on Fridays to spend more time with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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