Meet the amazing animal heroes transforming Cardiff Dogs Home

All volunteers are amazing, but these volunteers take the biscuit. Read the inspiring story of the humans who turned a council pound into a dog hotel.

The thought of a dog lost, abandoned or surrendered to kennels is enough to make most dog lovers teary eyed - but Toria from The Rescue Hotel in Cardiff says ““I always say to people, never get sad about the dogs in this place. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened for them.”

And for the dogs who find themselves in The Rescue Hotel’s care, that’s certainly true. 

This amazing volunteer formed and led charity has changed everything for the future of dogs in their community - and we’re very proud to support them through our Happy Paws programme. 

From council pound to rescue hotel

The Rescue Hotel began with a handful of volunteers who were regularly walking and spending time with the dogs at Cardiff Dog’s Home.

They saw the gap between what the council could fund and what the dogs actually needed - and they decided to do something about it.  

So they set up a charity to raise funds to improve the kennel facilities, the care, and the futures of the dogs who land there.  

Since officially registering in 2020, the charity has:

• Raised funds for a complete kennel refurbishment, with larger spaces, better layouts and secure fields to reduce stress
• Funded extra veterinary care, from broken legs to complex surgeries
• Ensured dogs are neutered before they’re rehomed
• Built an on-site low-cost veterinary suite open to the local community
• Hired behaviourists to work with dogs in kennels and support adopters

In other words: the council’s always provided a safety net, The Rescue Hotel helps them go above and beyond.

How good nutrition supports better welfare

In any kennel environment, stress is part of the picture. New smells, new sounds, strange dogs, different people - it’s a lot for even the most resilient dog to handle. And many of the dogs who find themselves in rescue have health complications added into the mix.

Before working with Forthglade, the dogs at Cardiff Dogs Home were fed what their budget could stretch to, but they wanted to do more to support the dog’s health and behaviour.

The volunteers and kennel staff were seeing dogs coming in with:

• Red, sore, itchy skin
• Ear and skin issues
• Unknown histories and no way of knowing which ingredients they might react to

Any vet or behaviourist will ask the same first question: “What are they eating?”

Toria had already been on her own deep dive into nutrition with her own rescue dog Emily, who had severe allergies and needed a carefully managed diet. She knew first-hand how much difference the right food could make - and how expensive trial-and-error can be when you’re doing it alone.

So she started asking a different question: “How can we get nutritious food for our dogs that’ll support good health and behaviour?”

A partnership was born

So on Black Friday in 2024, Toria placed an enormous order of Forthglade natural dog food - taking advantage of a big discount to get the healthy food she knew their dogs needed.

Our team immediately spotted the order and got in touch with Toria - and the rest as they say is history. 

Here’s a photo of Toria’s dog Emily collecting our first donation of food to The Rescue Hotel.

“At Forthglade, we believe every dog deserves a nutritious meal, not just the ones who are lucky enough to have landed on their paws the first time around.” - Liane Meade

For The Rescue Hotel, having regular donations of natural, clearly labelled recipes means they can:

• Feed dogs high quality food with no unnecessary fillers or junk
• Lean on alternative proteins - like duck - that are often better tolerated by sensitive dogs
• Avoid overloading already-stressed systems with ingredients many dogs struggle with
• Know exactly what’s in each tray, which is vital when you’re juggling allergies and unknown histories

Since feeding natural, grain free dog food, the team have seen:

• Fewer itchy, uncomfortable dogs
• Better skin and coat condition
• Calmer tummies in a stressful environment (the proof, as Toria jokes, “is in the poop”)

When you’re living in kennels, these changes are huge. A dog who isn’t constantly scratching or battling a sore tummy has more capacity to relax, learn, and show who they really are.

That’s good for welfare -  and it’s good for rehoming.

Why play and bonding matter just as much as nutrition

Food is the first building block, but what happens between meals matters just as much for every dog.

Kennels are noisy, unpredictable places. Dogs have very little control over their day: when they go out, who they see, when things change.

Play and enrichment give some of that control back. And it delivers joy.

That’s where our friends at Tug-E-Nuff, a Devon based dog toy company, come in.

Tug-E-Nuff specialises in interactive dog toys that boost bonds, relieve boredom, and burn energy. Their tuggies, chaser toys and fetch toys are designed to be used with people, not alone. And this is crucial for helping build trust with dogs who’ve had a rough time in life.

Their team work closely with dog trainers and behaviourists around the world, so they understand how powerful play can be for:

• Burning off nervous energy in a positive way
• Building confidence in worried or shut-down dogs
• Helping strong, frustrated dogs let off steam safely
• Creating joyful, memorable moments between dogs and the humans caring for them

The bringing of gifts

When we arranged a special Christmas delivery to The Rescue Hotel - complete with festive Forthglade meals and treats - Tug-E-Nuff joined us with a gift box bursting with toys.

The result was a room full of rescue dogs allowed to choose their own toys and treats.

This special moment made for a brilliant video (and some very waggy tails), but there’s more going on than just cute heartwarming content.

Every time a dog in kennels experiences interactive, positive play, a few important things happen:

• Their heart rate and breathing can come down after the game, instead of staying stuck at “stress level” all day
• They build good associations with people and handling
• Staff and volunteers see more of the dog’s true personality - the spark that will win over an adopter

Setting dogs up for success in their new homes

The Rescue Hotel’s work doesn’t stop at the kennel door.

Because they now have the ability to fund ‘extras’ the council couldn’t afford, they can:

• Pay for behaviourists to support dogs with complex needs
• Continue that behaviour support into the dog’s new home, so adopters aren’t left on their own
• Run an on-site low-cost vet clinic offering vaccinations, neutering, flea and worming and dental care at accessible prices for everyone in the community

That last part is particularly important. Many of the people using the clinic don’t qualify for means-tested help, but are still feeling the squeeze of the cost of living. Affordable veterinary care helps them stay on top of their dog’s health - and reduces the risk of their dogs ending up in kennels in the future.

When dogs find a home, they stay supported

Every adopted dog leaves with a Forthglade tote bag packed with:

• A few day’s worth of the recipes they’ve been eating in kennels - including any allergy-friendly options they’ve done well on
• Natural dog treats to help with settling in and training in those early days

And that’s important, because no sudden food switches reduce the likelihood of upset tummies during an already stressful transition period. Plus the dogs get to associate their new life with familiar, comforting smells and tastes.

Alongside that, many adopters will continue the kinds of interactive play their dog has enjoyed with Tug-E-Nuff toys in kennels - using tug, fetch and chase games to build trust and bond in those crucial first weeks.

It all adds up to a much smoother start for everyone.

Why this partnership matters (and how you can help)

At Forthglade, we see our relationship with The Rescue Hotel - and with Tug-E-Nuff - as a purposeful partnership.

• The Rescue Hotel brings relentless determination and day-to-day care for some of the most vulnerable dogs in Cardiff - and shows others what’s possible with teamwork.
• We provide natural, nutritious meals and treats to support the dog’s health and behaviour.
• Tug-E-Nuff brings high-value, interactive toys that help dogs de-stress, play and connect with people.

This community fuelled initiative has given this council pound the support they need to relieve stress in dogs and set them up for happy futures.  

If you’d like to be part of that story, here are a few simple ways to help:

• Adopt - The Rescue Hotel rehomes dogs across the UK, not just locally. If you’re looking for a new four-legged family member, keep an eye on their adoption posts.
• Donate - Money helps them keep funding vet care, behaviour support, kennel refurbishment and those all-important extras that make such a difference.
• Share - Follow The Rescue Hotel on Facebook or Instagram and share the dogs in their care to help their stories travel further.
• Support welfare-led brands - Choose companies that put dog welfare and community at the heart of what they do (whether that’s food, toys or training) to help initiatives like this continue.

When you combine good food, bond-boosting play, and people who care deeply, life in kennels can be a place of hope. We’re beyond proud to support this incredible charity and the beautiful dogs in their care.  

Recently adopted a rescue or planning to soon? Find the best toys for rescue dogs here. 

Find more tips on how to help your rescue dog settle in here. 

All Images Credit @jamieallenphotos