Charity bosses are bracing themselves for a sharp rise in dogs in need of urgent care due to the ‘devastating’ financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dogs Trust has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of its work and encourage pet owners to contact them if they can no longer care for their pooch.

Fronting its campaign is Shar Pei, Patch, who has been under the care of the Dogs Trust team in Basildon for several months.

Echo: Patch nearly went blind because of a serious eye conditionPatch nearly went blind because of a serious eye condition

Patch was bought online in October and handed to the team soon after because he was battling a serious eye condition, as well as suffering with a limp, dental and skin issues.

He was also much older than had been suggested. 

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Patch has since been nursed back to health and has been reserved by a new owner.

Dogs Trust says Patch’s journey shows how it can intervene and help change a dog’s life for the better.

But Lisa Cooper, centre manager at the charity’s rehoming site in Basildon, has warned the trust is facing a hectic few months as the true impact of the Covid crisis begins to show for many dog owners.

She said: “We know that the pandemic, and its economic repercussions, will have devastating effects on some people’s lives and their ability to care for their pets.

“When people take on the responsibilities of dog ownership, they do so with the best intentions to care for them long-term.

“It is heart-breaking to hear someone having to choose, for example, between a roof over their head, or their dog and we’d like to thank the people who made these calls for allowing us to share their story and for coming to us in their time of need.

Echo:

“Unfortunately, we believe the worst is yet to come and we expect many more calls like this as the pandemic fallout continues - and we will do all we can to help those in need of our support.”

In the last six months, Dogs Trust says its ‘Giving Up Your Dog’ web page has seen a 41 per cent increase in traffic.

The charity has also released a new advert in which real-life phone-calls made by owners who can no longer care for their dog are played allowed. Bosses hope it will shed light on the ‘struggles’ some dog owners are facing in the near future.