Dogs Trust reports big rise in number of people trying to rehome their pets

In the first 10 months of this year, Dogs Trust received 42,000 inquiries from owners about rehoming. Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

The number of pet owners attempting to rehome their dogs has risen sharply this year, according to figures from the Dogs Trust, with shelters facing long waiting lists and many setting up pet food banks.

Between 1 January and 31 October, the animal charity received 42,000 inquiries from dog owners about rehoming, a rise of almost 50% on the same period in 2021.