Disabled dog charity say all dogs need a ‘forever home’

A charity that cares for ill, disabled and elderly dogs says all dogs need a loving “forever home”.

The Dogs Nobody Wants Sanctuary (DNWS) in Slough was set up by Matthew Young, 57, and his partner, Christopher Young.

The couple care for 14 unwanted dogs, including 11 paraplegic and one multiple amputee.

Jo Drury, one of the charity’s volunteers, said: “These dogs shouldn’t have any less chance of a loving, happy home forever.”

Mr Young explained that more than a decade ago, he volunteered for a dog rescue charity and noticed that “nobody could really home disabled dogs”.

He said he and his partner started taking in disabled dogs and it “snowballed from there”.

He said: “It pretty much takes up all of my time, but anyone who meets the dogs knows that it’s worth every minute.

“We live with the dogs as if they’re family – it’s just home for us.

“Every dog in our sanctuary has a home for their entire life.”

Ms Drury got involved with the charity when she adopted her dog, a cross terrier called Bonnie, in 2015.

She said: “Bonnie was born on Constantia railway station in Romania and was very unfortunate to be hit by a train and she lost her leg.

“Matthew turned up to be my home checker, to find out if I was a suitable pet owner.”

Ms Drury said the charity work that the couple does is “phenomenal”.

She said: “I honestly, genuinely don’t know how they do it.

“It takes a very special kind of person to take a dog with so many different issues on and give them an absolutely normal, loving life.”