A Co Antrim dog welfare charity has officially opened a new centre after a major two-year redevelopment, with BBC star Holly Hamilton joining the celebrations.
The Dogs Trust in Ballymena, which last year rehomed 335 dogs in Northern Ireland, now boasts new facilities featuring the latest advances in kennel design and welfare.
This week the team and canine residents at the centre enjoyed a celebratory atmosphere as the new centre officially opened its doors. The team even welcomed broadcaster Holly Hamilton at the new centre.
Over 10,000 dogs have been rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed at the Ballymena centre since it first opened its doors in 1970.
Since then, the Dogs Trust has made significant strides in the design of its rehoming centres, but its main hub hadn’t seen any major improvements.
The Ballymena facilities which were once functional, increasingly became less suited to the needs of the dogs entering the charity’s care, particularly those with behavioural issues and anxieties.
The major two-phase redevelopment project began in January 2022 and was completed in July 2024.
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The team at the trust say they will now “be able to have an even greater impact on the lives of rescue dogs in Northern Ireland”.
The new centre includes 41 newly designed kennels, with underfloor heating, more than 20 individual off-lead compound areas and a new vet consult room with upgraded facilities.
The new kennels include 20 intake kennels, 14 rehoming ‘on-view’ kennels and three kennels dedicated to dogs that require extra training and behavioural support.
The redevelopment also saw the introduction of a new puppy unit, with four whelping kennels for pregnant mums and their pups, each with their own individual mini gardens.
Staff at the centre will be able to benefit from an upgraded reception area, staff rooms and offices.
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust Chief Executive, said: “The expansion and redevelopment of Dogs Trust Ballymena will be invaluable in allowing us to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome more dogs in Northern Ireland, particularly dogs with behavioural issues, which is the number one reason dogs come into our care.
“We have already witnessed the difference the new kennel design, specialist puppy unit, and off-lead exercise areas are making to the lives of our dogs.
“It has been fantastic today to officially reopen the rehoming centre while saying thank you to all our dedicated staff and supporters who have made this day possible.”
Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for around 13,000 dogs every year across its network of 21 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin.
Dogs Trust has a non-destruction policy and will never put a healthy dog to sleep.
The charity said it also focuses its efforts on understanding dogs and sharing that knowledge with the wider public to prevent problem behaviours that can result in relinquishment or abandonment.