Caring for strays at BCDH

Our action plan for stray cats and dogs

At Bath Cats and Dogs Home, we provide emergency shelter and care for cats and dogs with nowhere else to go. Our Intake team take calls and emails every day and coordinate the protection of animals in need. 

In 2022 we had an astonishing 55% increase in stray pets, and it has continued to rise each year. In 2024, 390 stray cats and dogs came in with only a quarter claimed. We have even seen whole litters left in parks or laybys.

Our impact

• Collaborating with BANES and Wiltshire Protection Services, to house stray dogs for their statutory 7-day period and to search for their owner. Our work with the Wiltshire Dog Warden has seen us both win the RSPCA Gold Award for our service and care, two years running
• A promise to continue the animals’ care once signed over to us if they are not claimed
• For every cat and dog to have an initial medical and behaviour assessment, then a personalised plan for any rehabilitation needed to aid their path to adoption

• Collaborating with Bath Vets, with an expert team based at our on-site veterinary facilities and operation theatre.
• Every cat and dog receive primary care of parasite treatment, vaccines, neutering and microchipping. Around half need further medical treatment – most commonly for skin infections or allergies, wounds, pain management and dental care.

• Working with the guidance of a highly qualified Clinical Behaviourist to ensure dogs with behaviour issues can have the best chance for rehabilitation within a kennel environment.
• Reducing the average stay for dogs to free up space for more to come in.
• Training and utilising foster carers to give temporary homes, to view behaviours in a home environment and to free the BCDH team to focus on the cats and dogs on site.

Preventing relinquishment or abandonment

To try and stem the numbers of abandoned pets coming into the centre, we have taken steps to assist dedicated pet owners to stop small issues getting to the point where they feel they need to relinquish or abandon their pet.

We have an emergency veterinary fund for those on a low income, and donate spare pet food to local Food Banks. We also have the Together Project, hosting a free veterinary clinic for pets whose owners are vulnerably housed.  

A free Pet Care Advice section on our website, and social campaigns, help pet owners understand, bond with and care for their pets.

This care wouldn't be possible without your help.

Together we can make sure there are beds, advice, training and medical care for these cats and dogs.
 

From stray to loved pet

Pablo's story is quite typical of our stray lurchers at BCDH. Pablo was picked up the Dog Warden, we think left behind after being used for illegal hare coursing. From his behaviour at BCDH and our assessments, we could assume he hadn't lived in a house before, and not had any training for everyday pet life such as walking on a lead.

As with every cat and dog at BCDH, we made him a personal rehabilitation plan. At 5kg underweight, this included a healthy high-protein diet, and to increase his confidence walking on a lead he joined in group walks with more relaxed dogs.

We gave him training like ‘focus on me’ and also taught him to play tug! He was with us for 2 months before being chosen and adopted.

His adopters took him on with a big heart full of patience. 

Pablo's new family shared their thoughts on adopting a lurcher: "We had a very positive experience adopting from Bath Cats and Dogs Home and appreciated their honest advice on the training and decompression period needed by rescued strays like Pablo. It is worth the time and effort, adopting Pablo has been the best decision we've ever made!"