A dog day care centre owner in Kent has spoken out about being “overwhelmed” by abandoned dogs, revealing that he has spent more than £12,000 caring for pets left in his care.
Alix Anson-Jones, who runs Seadogs Margate in Thanet, said that since opening the business in March, he has been inundated with abandoned dogs, many of which have been left behind by owners who never return.
The situation has reached such a critical point that Anson-Jones had to take out a £10,000 loan to pay for the medical treatment of Stanley, a French Bulldog suffering from a degenerative spinal condition. Despite efforts to save Stanley, the dog was later put down due to the severity of his health issues.
Anson-Jones explained the emotional and financial toll of caring for abandoned dogs, stating, “I love dogs and cannot say no. If we turf them out, we don’t know what will happen to them.” His sense of responsibility has left him caught between his passion for dogs and the strain of running what has effectively become an unofficial rescue centre.
Since March, four dogs have been dumped at Seadogs Margate, either by owners who booked appointments but never returned or by those who handed over their pets at the door and disappeared.
Anson-Jones believes the root of the problem lies in a combination of people taking on breeds they are ill-equipped to care for and the ongoing cost of living crisis, which is forcing some pet owners to give up animals they can no longer afford to keep.
The former bouncer described how the local community, facing its own struggles, is increasingly relying on him to care for their unwanted pets. He stated that almost every week, residents in the area ask him to take on their dogs.
In one instance, a woman who had lost her home and was moving into temporary accommodation left her dog with him, further highlighting the growing challenges of pet ownership during tough economic times.
“It’s a systematic problem,” the 43-year-old said, noting that local rescue centres are full and that he has received little assistance from authorities. He added, “I wanted a peaceful dream job where I could look after dogs – not all this stress. Becoming a rescue centre was never something I set out to do.”
Kent Police have confirmed that they are not responsible for dealing with abandoned pets and advised that such cases be reported to local councils or the RSPCA.
The RSPCA, which is already stretched thin, is facing what it describes as a “rehoming crisis.” According to Karen Colman, who leads the charity’s rehoming efforts, 42% more animals (37,910) arrived at RSPCA shelters in 2023 compared to the number that were adopted (27,277).
“Our centres are full-to-bursting,” Colman said, urging anyone in Kent considering adopting a pet to give a rescue animal a second chance rather than purchasing from breeders.
As the crisis deepens, individuals like Anson-Jones continue to shoulder the burden of abandoned pets, caught between their love for animals and the harsh realities of an overloaded system.
