130 years of caring - A timeline - Birmingham Dogs Home

Our Story – 130 years of caring

1892

Birmingham Dogs Home was donated land by Sir Alfred Gooch in New Canal Street in Birmingham to build the first home to care for lost and starving dogs.

4,334 dogs were cared for in the first year.

1906

The Dog Act required that
all stray dogs be reported
to the police.

1914-18

World War I: 85 Birmingham Dogs Home dogs went to the War Dogs School to train to
help the Red Cross.

1920’S

More dogs were being injured by the increasing number of motor cars and trams in Birmingham.

8,221 dogs were cared for in 1925.

1939-45

World War II: Birmingham Dogs Home dogs helped the war effort by guarding local aerodromes and army stores.

1960’S

Birmingham Dogs Home experienced a sharp increase in the number of homeless dogs coming into its care following the demolition of Birmingham’s slums, and dogs were not allowed in the replacement council high rise blocks.

1974

The metropolitan county of the West Midlands was created. BDH received dogs from Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry.

1980’S

The original building was no longer suitable to meet the charity’s needs. A Rebuilding Appeal was launched which included a Dog Show in Pype Hayes Park.

1987

Dog licences abolished.

1989

Official opening of the new centre in New Bartholomew Street, Digbeth, by HRH Duchess of York.

2002

After a rebuilding programme Sunnyside Kennels was re-opened as Birmingham Dogs Home Wolverhampton, in 2002, where 100 dogs could be cared for in glass fronted kennels with outside space to exercise.

2015

Birmingham Dogs Home’s rescue centre near the NEC was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester, where we can now care for 120 dogs to the highest welfare standards in spacious kennels, exercise paddocks and enrichment areas.