With less than 10 weeks until Christmas, Dogs Trust Salisbury is on a mission to find the dogs in its care the one Christmas gift they all want – a home for life.

Dogs Trust Salisbury is currently home to 70 dogs and the charity is on a mission to find homes for as many of them as possible ahead of the festive season.

This comes as Dogs Trust reveals it has received over 32,000 handover enquiries so far this year from owners no longer able to care for their dogs. In 2024 the charity has also found new homes for more than 6,000 dogs across the UK.

Dogs Trust Salisbury Manager Claire Rowe, said: “Christmas is fast approaching, and we are hoping to find forever homes for as many dogs as possible ahead of the festive season.

"While the Dogs Trust team will make sure that the dogs in our care over Christmas are well looked after, with festive treats and gifts galore, we all know there’s nowhere quite like home.

"We are certain that there is a fantastic forever home for each and every one of our dogs, and we’d like to see as many as possible settled in their new happy places ahead of Christmas.”

Claire continued: "Welcoming a dog into your home is a wonderful experience, but it requires commitment, both in terms of time and money.

"We work closely with prospective adopters to ensure they’re fully prepared to welcome one of our dogs into their home, and our team carefully matches each dog with a family and home that suits them best.

"And our care doesn’t stop at rehoming – we offer ongoing support and guidance to owners throughout their dog's life. At Dogs Trust, our dogs are part of the family for life, not just for Christmas."

Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre Salisbury (Image: Charles Elliman) One of those dogs hoping for a new home ahead of the festive season is Simba. Known for his playful and larger-than-life personality, Simba loves being active and engaging in outdoor activities with his human companions.

However, due to his struggles with other dogs, Simba needs a quiet home with a secure garden and access to peaceful walks.

Simba’s ideal home must be free of other pets and should have someone available most of the time, as he is not used to being left alone.

Although he is housetrained, relaxed around traffic and comfortable travelling in a car, Simba needs to be muzzled and on a lead when out and about.

Simba’s favourite game is chasing after a tennis ball, and he also enjoys playing with his other soft toys. Despite his boisterous and playful nature, Simba cherishes quiet moments and often seeks cuddles from the people he knows and trusts.