Dogs, People and Society Have Changed: Understanding the current challenges in the animal rehoming sector with Heather Wren

Animal rehoming organisations across the UK are facing pressures unlike anything seen before. The combined impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the cost‑of‑living crisis, and shifting patterns in dog guardianship has created a perfect storm. More dogs are entering care with complex behavioural and health needs, staying longer, requiring more intensive rehabilitation, and in some cases experiencing compromised welfare. At the same time, adoption rates have declined, leaving staff and volunteers carrying an ever‑heavier emotional and practical burden. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral stress are becoming increasingly common among those working tirelessly to support these dogs. Many in the sector are asking whether this is a temporary spike or a fundamental shift in the landscape of rehoming.

This webinar explores the evidence behind these changes and what they mean for the future of animal welfare work. Drawing on new research into the evolving dog population, guardian behaviour, and wider societal trends, lets look at how these forces shape the types of dogs entering rehoming centres—and the challenges faced by the people who care for them. We’ll also discuss practical, multi‑layered recommendations to help organisations adapt, protect staff wellbeing, and continue delivering their charitable missions. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the “new normal” and strategies to build a more sustainable, compassionate future for dogs and the humans who support them.

• Understand the key societal, economic, and demographic shifts that have contributed to changes in the UK dog population and patterns of dog guardianship.
• Identify the emerging behavioural and health profiles of dogs entering rehoming centres and how these differ from pre‑crisis trends.
• Recognise the impact of prolonged, complex cases on staff wellbeing, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral stress.
• Evaluate how reduced adoption rates and increased length of stay influence organisational capacity, welfare outcomes, and resource allocation.
• Explore evidence‑based strategies for adapting rehoming practices, including assessment, rehabilitation, and matching processes.
• Apply insights from the research to real‑world scenarios, enabling attendees to reflect on their own centre’s challenges and opportunities.

Your Presenters- Heather Wren

With over 25 years of experience in the rescue and rehoming sector, Heather has built a career dedicated to improving canine welfare and supporting those who work with dogs daily. During her 12-year tenure at Dogs Trust, she has progressed from serving as a Training and Behaviour Advisor to leading behaviour-focused education for staff and volunteers, and she now serves as an Operations Project Manager on rehoming-related projects. Her extensive background spans multiple rescue organizations as well as private practice as a professional behaviorist and dog trainer. Heather is currently completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Edinburgh and recently authored her first research paper, which serves as the foundation for her work in this webinar. Known for being relentlessly solution-focused, she approaches every challenge with the firm belief that there is always a way forward.

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