Dogs Trust delivers Christmas Hope to people experiencing homelessness

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is asking people to consider the canine companions of people experiencing homelessness when writing their letters to Santa this year.

Every Christmas, through its Hope Project, Dogs Trust brings festive cheer to the dogs of people experiencing homelessness by distributing canine hampers of collars, leads, coats, treats and toys to dogs and their owners. Dogs Trust has been running the unique Hope Project for over 25 years and as well as Christmas gifts, provides free veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness or in housing crisis.

This year, the Hope Project expects to deliver over 2000 Christmas parcels to dogs and their owners across the UK; a 24% increase in the number of parcels given out in 2021. Over the next few weeks, Christmas parcels will be delivered to homelessness services in Essex including Chess (Chelmsford), St Vincent De Paul (Southend), Hope House (Braintree) and Basildon Community Resource Centre (Basildon).

Ros spoke to Radi Ivanov.

Photo: Olivia Hemmingway via Dogs Trust.