Surge in January relationship break-ups causing rise in demand at dog rescue centre

Beth, the deputy manager at Jerry Green Nottingham with rescue dog Hamish
By Henry Green
A Nottinghamshire dog rescue centre says an increase in couples splitting up in January has caused a surge in the number of animals being brought in for re-homing.
Jerry Green, a dog rescue in Blidworth, says it is currently struggling with the high demand to take in dogs.
The centre has been rescuing dogs for more than 60 years and currently has more than 30 dogs available for adoption.
Beth Stukins, deputy manager at Jerry Green, says that there has been a notable increase in dogs needing a new home since the start of 2025.
She said: “We are getting an awful lot of enquiries than we ever used to certainly over the last four months.
“A lot of people are having a lot of changes [in relationships] towards the end of 2024 and we are really seeing the affects of that with people not quite being able to care for their dogs and thinking that the best option is to find a new home for them,” Beth added.
Beth added she knows of other rescue centres which are struggling to accommodate dogs. Other people are giving up pets having returned to working in-person as some employers move away from remote working trends first introduced during the pandemic.
An increase in partners splitting up has also meant that owners can no longer afford to look after their pets when they move out.
“A lot of rescues are really feeling a lot of pressure to do more outside of just taking in and homing dogs,” she said.
“Generally there is three times the amount of dogs needing rescue spaces than there is spaces able to take those dogs, so it really is in a bit of a critical state at the moment,” Beth added.
Beth said it typically takes each dog a month on average to be rehomed from the rescue centre.

Some of the dogs currently (February 5) available for adoption include bouncy Lurcher Holly and Shih Tzu Cross Ace.
Holly is a five-year-old who came to Jerry Green as a stray and would suit a home with her new family around for most of the day.
She can’t live with other pets as she has a high prey drive but can live with children who are older than 11-years-old.

Ace is a pup aged one year and nine months and is looking for an active family to match his active lifestyle.
He hasn’t ever really been left alone before so is looking for a family that are around most of the time.
He can live with children who are older than 14, but can be unsure around younger children.

Luna is a young and bouncy Weimaraner who is also looking for an active family.
She is looking for a home where her new family is around all day and can live with older children.
To see more of the dogs available at Jerry Green Nottinghamshire, visit their website here.
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