A DOG charity is celebrating 125 years of rehoming and caring for dogs accross the UK.

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, with a rehoming centre in Basildon, is celebrating the landmark anniversary and staff at the Basildon rehoming centre are marking the occasion by looking back at some of the organisation’s most notable achievements over the years.

Dogs Trust was founded in 1891 by socialite Lady Gertrude Stock and a small group of fellow dog lovers, the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) as it was formerly known, was dedicated solely to helping 'protect dogs from torture and ill usage of every kind'.

Since its small beginnings, the charity has been instrumental in changing the quality of life for dogs of all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. From its early years campaigning against the widespread use of dogs for vivisection and the persecution of stray dogs following rabies scares, to opening shelters for stray dogs and providing veterinary care for poorer dog owners, Dogs Trust has long championed the cause of the nation’s four-legged friends - something it continues to do to this very day.

Dogs Trust Basildon opened its doors in 2014 and has since helped over 2,000 dogs find loving new homes.

The rehoming centre now has 42 staff members and 82 volunteers who support the day-to-day running of the rehoming centre.

Today, the charity runs campaigns to educate people on responsible dog ownership, how to keep children safe around dogs and the importance of neutering and microchipping.

To help celebrate 125 years of saving dogs lives, the staff and dogs at Dogs Trust Basildon have been getting creative with a fun, themed picture featuring some of the four legged friends currently awaiting loving new homes.

Lisa Cooper, Dogs Trust Basildon Rehoming Centre Manager said it’s wonderful to look back over the years and see how far Dogs Trust has come in making vital improvements in dog welfare.

She added: "I’m sure Lady Gertrude Stock couldn’t have imagined that the initial meeting of a handful of dog lovers would grow to become the largest dog welfare charity in the UK with a slogan famous worldwide.”

Whilst the charity has grown and adapted with the changing times, its core values remain – ensuring all dogs can live a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.”

Ms Cooper added: “Helping stray and abandoned dogs has always been at the forefront of Dogs Trust’s aims and in this, our 125th year, we were delighted to welcome the introduction of compulsory microchipping in England, Scotland and Wales. This essential element of responsible dog ownership is the most effective permanent way of ensuring a lost dog is reunited with its owner so we hope to see a decline in the stray dog population in years to come.”