New Dogs Trust Ballymena service helps dogs move directly from one home to another

Nala pictured in her new home after benefiting from Dogs Trust new ‘Homestay’ initiative

Wednesday 23 September 2026

Dogs Trust Ballymena is highlighting a new rehoming option designed to help owners who can no longer keep their dog — while allowing their pet to remain at home until a new family is found.

New option aims to avoid kennel stays

The charity’s Homestay service allows eligible dogs to move directly from their existing home to a new one, rather than first entering a Dogs Trust rehoming centre.

Dogs Trust says the approach can reduce stress for dogs, while also freeing up kennel and foster capacity for animals that need it most.

The service comes as the charity says it has received more than 28,000 enquiries from owners across the UK so far this year seeking help to rehome their dog, with kennels and foster homes consistently full.

Dogs rehomed more quickly during trials

Under Homestay, Dogs Trust assesses the dog before beginning the search for a suitable new home. The dog then continues living with its current owner during the process.

The charity says this also gives its teams more information about a dog’s personality, routine and individual needs, helping them identify an appropriate match.

According to Dogs Trust, trial periods found dogs using Homestay moved to a new home within an average of 14 days, compared with an average stay of 58.5 days for dogs in its rehoming centres. More than 700 dogs have already been supported through Homestay nationally this year.

Nala finds a new family in three days

Among the dogs to benefit is Nala, a Bernese Mountain Dog-Collie cross who was reserved within three days of entering the Homestay process.

Nala needed a new home after struggling to cope when left alone. Although she passed her pre-intake assessment, Dogs Trust said she showed signs of stress in a kennel environment and staff believed a kennel stay could be particularly difficult for her.

Instead, she remained at home while Dogs Trust searched for an adopter. Following successful meetings with a prospective family, Nala moved directly to her new home.

Three months later, the charity says she has settled well, with her new family reporting that her confidence continues to grow. She has also celebrated her second birthday with a party and a dog-friendly cake.

Owners urged to seek help early

Dogs Trust says Homestay will not be suitable for every dog or every owner. Depending on individual circumstances, support may instead include behavioural services or admission to a rehoming centre.

Jake Flatman, Dogs Trust’s Head of Rehoming, said:

“We know that giving up a dog is an incredibly difficult decision, but we want people to call us the minute they need help, rather than when they reach the point of crisis.’’

“The earlier people get in touch, the more we can do to understand their situation and help find the most suitable support. If behaviour challenges are contributing to the decision our behaviour services – like our Behaviour Support Line - may be able to help dogs and their owners stay together. But, if giving up a dog is the right choice, we’ll support them every step of the way and find them the best option to rehome their dog.”

Dogs Trust is urging owners to contact the charity before reaching a point where they feel they have no alternative but to sell their dog online or give them away. Getting help early can allow the team to explore whether the dog and owner can remain together or, where rehoming is necessary, determine the most appropriate route.

How to get help

Anyone struggling to care for their dog or considering giving them up can contact Dogs Trust on 0303 003 0000.

More information about Homestay, including how the service works, is available at www.dogstrust.org.uk/homestay.

For owners facing a difficult decision, the key message from Dogs Trust Ballymena is to make contact early: Homestay may provide a route to a new family without a kennel stay, while other support could potentially help an owner and their dog remain together.