International expansion is on the horizon

One of the UK’s largest animal charities is planning expanding internationally after it took over two smaller charities.

The Dogs Trust has merged Worldwide Veterinary Service and Mission Rabies into a single group and will now operate as a subsidiary of this parent organisation.

The move will give the Dogs Trust greater influence internationally and will boost its work on welfare standards for dogs and other animals worldwide.

In a statement the charity said the merger would help it become a “truly global dog charity.”

As one of the largest charities in the country, it has spent more than £600m supporting dog welfare in both the UK and around the world in the last five years.

WVS, which works in countries including India and Malawi, held assets worth about £2m at the end of 2020/21, the most recent year it filed accounts with the Charity Commission. 

Mission Rabies, which works across Africa and Asia, had assets of about £300,000.

The subsidiary will keep the name Worldwide Veterinary Service and deliver Mission Rabies as one of its projects.

It will be headed by Luke Gamble, who is currently chief executive of both WVS and Mission Rabies.

The WVS will continue to be an independent charity and have its own four-person board, chaired by Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust.

Sharp said: “Working together will enable us to make a truly transformational difference to dog welfare and to save thousands of human lives as well.

 “In addition, it will significantly increase Dogs Trust’s international impact and establish it as the world's truly global dog charity, with an international footprint spanning five continents.”

Gamble said: “We look forward to making a massive global impact, in terms of both rabies elimination and championing animal welfare in places that desperately need it.”