“I’m lost, hungry and alone. I haven’t even a proper meal for weeks. The last thing I ate was a leftover sandwich found next to a bin – discarded carelessly by its full-bellied owner. I’m not complaining. It’s the best thing I’ve eaten in days. And food is the least of my worries. Last night I was attacked by a drunken group of youths. They took one look at me and decided I’d make a decent sized football. I was hoping they’d take pity and offer me a place to stay. Somewhere warm, where I could help to get myself back on my feet. And I’d have loved them for that. Just a chance. That’s all I’m asking for. A chance to have another crack at the whip. I’ll be better this time. But I’m lost. I’m so lonely. And I’m scared.”

In the UK in 2008, 96,892 stray dogs were found, rescued, and processed through local authority housing and rehoming centres. In 2011, that number rose to 126,176. It is becoming increasingly challenging to put the welfare of the animal before the physical limitations of the space allocated to temporary housing, but incredibly, even with this huge rise in strays, the number of animals put to sleep fell by one percent. It suggests authorities have adapted and improved their methods of handling animals, so I decided to spend some time photographing Cardiff Dogs Home to understand what happens to the dogs that fall under their care, the employees and volunteers who work together in sync, and how dog education and responsible ownership is the number one priority for those in the industry trying to make a dog’s life worthwhile.

Cardiff Dogs Home (CDH) processes over 1200 stray dogs in Cardiff each year. There is space for 40 animals to be housed within the confines of the kennel at any one time, so it is critical that from the moment an animal is found or rescued, CDH implements every available method for rehoming an orphaned dog. In 2010, the manager of CDH sadly passed away, leaving the reins to her replacement, Maria. Under her, the committed employees that look after the dogs form a strong family bond and show a fervent love for the dogs that temporarily fall under their care. For those who love dogs in the same way that we a family member, the workplace proves to be an emotional roller-coaster, with mistreated and malnourished dogs a regular occurrence. While everything possible is done to find a dog a new home, there are occasions when nothing can be done and an animal is put to sleep.

At 27 years old, the kennels are fully functional but not the prettiest sight. The main building is cold, dark and the dogs are kept in stained and gloomy cages. They are fed twice a day and are contained in the kennel for about half an hour each morning in order for their outside spaces to be cleaned by the staff. It’s a mucky job to come into in the morning. Faeces and urine adorn every cage.  On one occasion I stumbled into the oncoming path of the power washer spray used to move yesterday mornings digested breakfast out of the kennels.. It wasn’t pleasant, but it did help prove how dedicated someone must be to care for these dogs every day.

A dog is classed as stray if, quite obviously, there is no owner there to control it. They will foul on land, and may also present a danger to the public. A stray dog is quite often a scared dog, and scared dogs have the potential to act aggressively, even if it is not in their usual nature to do so. They present a danger to themselves without a responsible owner to control them, and the council has a legal duty to impound a stray when informed of one. Most of the time a member of the public will call, having spotted and/or apprehended a stray. If they cannot take the dog to CDH themselves one of the dog wardens will collect the animal. If the dog has a microchip it’s a quick fix, with the dog being returned straight to its owner. Other times it can be the beginning of a lengthy process before a dog can be returned or rehomed.

I accompanied one of the dog wardens, Jacko, on a rescue. A lady had called in saying that she had managed to pick up a Jack Russell who appeared scared and lost. On arrival at the house, we found a severely emaciated and petrified dog who had been lucky enough to be found by this kind woman. She didn’t have her own dog but had fed him and allowed him to sleep at her home overnight before calling the local pound.

In that short space of time she had formed a strong attachment and was sad to see him go, but Jacko had to try and locate the owner so we left the house and walked back to the van where he scanned the dog to find out if he was chipped. Jacko pulled out a rectangular piece of plastic and ran it over the dogs back just between the shoulder blades. It bleeped and a number came up on the small LED screen – the dog was chipped. A simple phone call to the company that handles the private information contained within the chip’s data informs the warden where the animal lives and gives a contact telephone number to reach the owner on.

Unfortunately, due to the high numbers of UK based wardens doing the same thing, Jacko couldn’t get through so the dog was brought back to the kennels where he was treated for worms, fed, and his owners were contacted. It turned out that he had been lost and wandering around Cardiff for six weeks.

Micro-chipping is the absolute best and quickest way for a dog owner to ensure that if their dog is found, they are contacted and have their dog returned safely. It’s virtually painless for the dog and Jacko told me that they will chip a dog for ‘a donation’. If someone cannot afford very much, they’ll do it for as little as two pounds.

Other dogs are not so lucky. It’s a sad fact that not all dog owners want to be contacted after losing or abandoning their pets. For those dogs, a stay at the kennels is inevitable. Some seem to take to it better than others, coming up creative ways for keeping themselves entertained.

You do, however, observe dogs that look visibly depressed. Unlike many of the others who will greet me excitedly or bark what I’m pretty sure are dog obscenities, this poor chap barely acknowledged me. Receiving only a cursory glance, I watched as he sat slumped against his cage, ignoring the intense barking my presence had provoked. His eyes bore a sadness and despair that I could recognise; seen by us all in the eyes of a homeless person. Dispossessed, lonely and afraid. His apathy ripped my heart out. I was reminded of a quote I once read.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.” - Mother Teresa

Thankfully the care of the animals doesn’t fall entirely into the hands of the employee’s at CDH. There are regular members of the public who volunteer to take the dogs out each day, helping to keep them fit and healthy. They are also lucky enough to have a group of passionate dog lovers who have formed a group called the Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home (FOCDH). They provide a crucial lifeline to CDH by running fundraising events to raise funds for improving the living conditions of the animals in care, as well as trying to raise awareness of the home.

Many people don’t know CDH exists, or believe misguidedly that pre-owned dogs are somehow inferior, so they still buy animals from dealers and pet shops who, either knowingly or unknowingly buy the animals from puppy farms – where a bitch is bred solely for reproducing and can quite often never even see the light of day. Dogs can live in their own filth without ever being cleaned, contract infections and diseases, and be sold for enormous profits to owners looking for the next fashion accessory. The best thing that many of these animals can hope for is to end up at the dogs home, where they can receive medical attention and the chance of a life worth living. It’s for these reasons that the FOCDH are so passionate about the cause, and the enthusiasm and dedication I’ve witnessed from them makes me love the world just a little bit more when I think about the selflessness they show.

It’s not unfair to say, that whilst there are lots of responsible dog owners and fosterers out there, many people seem to misunderstand, or are just completely unaware of the benefits of buying a dog from local authority pound. The average price for a dog bought online or in pet shops ranges massively depending on its breed and age, but you will be looking at something between a few hundred pounds, and several thousand pounds. A dog from CDH will cost you between £100-£200. The price includes all injections and innoculations, and your dog will be chipped. And then there’s the feel good factor – you will be rehoming a lonely animal that may have been neglected and abused. You can give them a fresh start and the life that they deserve. You’ll also be helping to prevent puppy farming, as if there is no demand there’ll be no supply either. Finally you’ll receive sound advice about how to look after your dog with its best interests at heart.

They also provide other services. Fran from Dogs Trust (pictured above) came in one day to book in animals for neutering. Fran was a real character, and the passion she showed for her work was incredible, enthusiastically providing advice and guidance that gives pets and their owners a better quality of life. Sterilisation helps to prevent over-population, and in males it reduces the hormone testosterone, which can negatively influence the behaviour of an animal so there is a tangible benefit to have your dog neutered. Some believe it is unnecessary if your animal shows no behavioural problems and is kept away from females, but the overriding consensus suggests it’s worth doing.

This bitch is undergoing an Ovarian Hysterectomy in the surgical room of the CDH. The vets, Jerry and Nikki come in once a week to perform a variety of treatments. I was told of one case where a puppy had been brought in after its mother had chewed its foot off. It’s not as rare as you might think. It can happen when a mother gives birth to a new litter. If one of her pupp’s has what the mother believes to be a disfigurement or disability, she will quite often try to help them by removing the affected part. In this case, the animal survived after having its leg amputated and now lives with Michelle, one of CDH’s employees, after she took it home for recuperation and fell in love with it. It’s now part of her large family of dogs.

This bitch was brought in after being rescued. When trying to walk, her foot seemed unresponsive. It’s not known for sure what caused it, but they suspect it may be some sort of nerve damage caused by an accident. She regularly falls over when she puts her weight on it, and it didn’t seem to be getting any better. She’s a big dog, and can on first appearance appear quite intimidating for someone who has never owned a dog, but I can tell you that she was the soppiest, most loveable animal I met at the home. The employee’s took a shine to her and she was regularly exercised out in the yard in the hope that her condition would improve.

Here, the new owners of dog no. 11 come to collect the new addition to their family, and in only a matter of a few steps, dog no.11 becomes Dylan.

In the small period I spent with the folks at CDH, I’ve been surprised about the level of care shown to stray dogs in Cardiff. It’s not just the employees of CDH that do an incredible job, but also the volunteers who put their spare time into helping out wherever they can. The folks at the Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home have created a community of dog lovers through their forum and fund-raising events – an example of how in economically difficult times, when council budgets are stretched, people can come together. While some sit at their chairs writing about the terrible state the country is in, others are adapting to change by turning hardship into opportunities. They’re an example to us all and I wish them the very best of luck for the future.

If you want to look at the selection of dogs currently available at CDH, you can find them here. The Friends of Cardiff Dogs Home website has a wealth of information and is well worth checking out, and they have a very sociable forum you can join. You can also follow them on twitter and facebook.

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All images Copyright Tom Ashmore 2011

An interesting read about the process that goes on at Cardiff Dogs Home tomashmore.net/blog/cardiff-d… via @AddThis

— Lucy Emery (@Lucy_Emery) December 20, 2011

@TomAshmore has posted a great blog about his visits to Cardiff Dogs Home. A Photo-Essay | A Stranger’s Invasion bit.ly/seC2RB   — CdiffDogsHomeFriends (@CardiffDogs) December 20, 2011

yes, I am a bit excited, lovely lovely thoughtful documentary blog about the plight of the strays in CDH. Thanks so much Tom! — Susie James (@susiejankovskis) December 20, 2011

Tom Ashmore’s photographic essay tells the moving story of Cardiff Dogs’ Home: bit.ly/v5MzV7 @CardiffDogs @CdiffDogsHome — Joanna Martin (@trufflesquirrel) December 20, 2011

I just updated my Weebly website, check this out – tomashmore.net/blog/cardiff-d…! friendsofcardiffdogshome.org.uk via @weebly

— FriendsOfHaileyPark (@HaileyPkCardiff) December 20, 2011

Good photo essay here from @tomashmore about @CdiffDogsHome is.gd/JjTwuK

— Matthew Horwood (@matthew_horwood) January 7, 2012

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