For the love OF DOGS

Could you give a rescue pooch a second chance? We meet the women giving them time and love

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Britain may be a nation of dog lovers - Queen Victoria famously had more than 80 in her lifetime, and our late Queen was famous for her corgis - but sadly, more and more are facing abandonment and neglect.

The last three years have seen a 30% increase in abandoned dogs, thanks to a perfect storm of events. Many people got a dog in lockdown, then the Ukraine war soon afterwards contributed to a cost-of-living crisis that saw some owners struggle with food and vet bills.

Rehoming centres are reporting a crisis now, as more dogs are coming in than are being rehomed. For our canine companions, this means waiting a long time for the right owner, or worse, having to be euthanised.

The RSPCA has called on people to give a rescue dog a second chance of a loving home rather than buying puppies from breeders.

Animal charities are also on the lookout for dog foster carers to provide a temporary home, freeing up space in animal shelters.

The canine carer

Lynsey Tyrer, 43, is a canine carer for Dogs Trust in Merseyside. She has worked at the rehoming centre for 19 years.