A leading canine behaviour expert has taken the crisis facing Britain’s dog rescues straight to the heart of Westminster, warning MPs that those who care for the nation’s unwanted pets are “at breaking point”.
Jo Middleton, director of Canine Principles, spoke at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) on the alarming state of UK rescue, highlighting soaring burnout rates and preventable post-adoption returns.
Based in Camden, North London, but operating nationwide, Canine Principles has joined forces with the International School for Canine Psychology (ISCP), Dr Tara Quinn (pictured with Jo at Parliament) and the International Institute for Canine Ethics to launch what they describe as a “preventative, systems-led model” to support rescue workers and reduce returns
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The speech comes as new research paints a bleak picture of life for rescue workers. According to peer-reviewed data, animal shelter staff experience significantly elevated levels of emotional exhaustion, secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue compared to the general workforce.
More than 50 per cent report clinically significant symptoms of burnout, with euthanasia decisions and chronic workload pressures among the key drivers
At the same time, rescues are battling a wave of preventable post-adoption returns, particularly during the early adjustment period and canine adolescence
Jo’s message to Parliament was that: “if the sector collapses under emotional strain, dogs will pay the price.”
The new Collaboration Pathway for Rescue Workers, brings together mental health support, transition education and behavioural science. Central to it is the PAWS Mental Health Support Model, a practical framework designed to help staff “Pause and Assess”, “Ask and Actively Listen”, “Widen the Support Network” and “Signpost and Support Self-Care”
Alongside this sits a Canine Adolescence Course from Canine Principles and a “3 Stages of Adjustment” resource from the International Institute for Canine Ethics, aimed at reducing the heartbreak of dogs being returned during challenging developmental phases
Jo and Tara are now urging a nationwide shift in how rescue work is supported, arguing that early education for adopters and structured wellbeing frameworks for staff are not luxuries but necessities.
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