Dogs Trust's Homestay scheme keeps dogs out of kennels while new homes are found

Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, receives around 3,000 enquiries a month from owners who feel they can no longer keep their dog, and its rehoming centres and foster network are regularly full. Its Homestay service was developed to give these owners immediate support without waiting for kennel or foster space to free up: the dog stays in its familiar home under the owner's care while the charity works to find a new family, then moves directly from one home to the other with no time in kennels.

Dogs Trust says dogs placed through Homestay generally find a new home within around two weeks, compared with an average stay of 58.5 days for dogs coming through its rehoming centres, and that more than 700 dogs have been supported through the scheme nationally so far this year. Because the dog remains in a familiar routine throughout, staff can also build a fuller picture of its personality and needs, which the charity says helps with finding the right match. Owners keep legal and financial responsibility for their dog, including day-to-day costs such as food and vet visits, until a new home is confirmed.

For owners weighing up whether to give up a dog, the charity is encouraging early contact rather than waiting until a crisis point, such as feeling pressured to sell or give a dog away privately, so that options including behavioural support or Homestay can be discussed before things become urgent. For breeders, it is a reminder that established, welfare-focused rehoming routes exist and are actively being expanded, reducing the chances that a dog whose circumstances change ends up passed on informally rather than properly rehomed.