UWE graduate wants to save every homeless dog in Bristol

Homeless and struggling dog owners in Bristol are being thrown a bone by UWE Bristol graduate, Verity Jones, that gives out free ‘dog boxes’ to those in need.

Her innovative business – The Hound Haus – is a subscription service that allows customers around the UK to receive a box of dog goodies, delivered straight to their door every month.

The profits from subscriptions are subsequently used to produce and distribute free boxes to struggling or homeless dog owners.

MA Journalism graduate Verity set up the company after being awarded one of the University’s ‘Better Together Fund, Unltd Build-It’ grants, given out each year to projects or companies with an aspect of community interest or social enterprise at their core.

Verity said: “I have always loved dogs and have been working with homeless people for a while now. Seeing the daily struggles these people go through, I decided there needed to be a service that helped the owners out.”

“Dogs are so rewarding and are so much more than a pet, especially to those surviving on the streets, so to be able to those people, and their dogs, to live a better life is very important to me.”

The free boxes contain food, blankets, leads, bowls, flea and worming products, as well as treats, chews and toys and will be distributed weekly throughout Bristol.

One of Verity’s dog boxes

Verity said: “The boxes are an important source of aid to homeless owners as it gives them the ability and confidence to care for their dogs, and lets them concentrate on their on other struggles, be it unemployment, financial difficulties, disability or something else entirely.”

The company’s aim is to support owners in order to prevent dogs from ending up in shelters. With as many as 200 dogs a day being abandoned or given over to shelters around the UK, The Hound Haus hope to help the dogs, the owners and, in turn, reduce the demands on animal shelters.