All dogs deserve a good life and a safe, loving home. We exist to provide a safe place for homeless dogs and to find new loving places for them to live.

Who was Jerry Green?

You’ve probably already realised that our founder, Jerry Green, means a lot to us. He does, but perhaps the biggest credit should go to Rusty, the spaniel we celebrate in our logo. A faithful and loving companion to Jerry Green, in 1961 Rusty’s passing inspired his owner to set up a charity to rescue and rehome stray and unwanted dogs.

Jerry Green believed that far too many dogs were being put to sleep unnecessarily, a belief that has driven the charity’s activities since the creation of its first rescue centre in Broughton, North Lincolnshire.

His legacy continued when founding Trustee Peggy Dornom, Jerry Green’s friend and business partner, took over in 1968. She remained involved with the charity until her death in 2015, by which time a number of other Jerry Green centres had sprung up across the country.

• In 1961, we launched by opening our first centre in Broughton, North Lincolnshire
• In 1969, a second centre was opened in Halesworth, Suffolk
• In 1974, Veterinary surgeon and All Creatures Great and Small author James Herriot opened a centre in Catton, North Yorkshire
• In 1988, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, became the location for Jerry Green’s fourth dog rescue centre
• In 1995, a new centre was opened in Gilberdyke, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
• In 1997, we opened our South Lincolnshire in Boston
• In 1998, a seventh centre opened in Brixworth, Northamptonshire

Where we are now?

In July 2020, the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic meant we had to make the heart-breaking decision to further consolidate our resources – something which we had not done since 2012 when we closed our Suffolk and Northamptonshire centres. To help safeguard the charity’s future, we sadly closed our North Yorkshire centre in Thirsk, leaving the charity with 4 operating centres in North and South Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

For more than 60 years since Jerry Green founded the charity back in 1961, we have been transforming the lives of abandoned and unwanted dogs by providing shelter and finding them loving homes.

The caring, ‘dog-centric’ ethos at Jerry Green Dog Rescue means we continue to put dogs at the heart of everything we do. There are too few homes for too many dogs, so we’re always looking at ways to ensure our dogs have the best quality of life while they are staying with us and we try to find their perfect match.

We are proud that we continue to be pioneering in dog welfare and rehoming. Our groundbreaking Meet&Match® approach to rehoming was first introduced in 2004. Each families who adopts a Jerry Green dog receives dedicated aftercare, training and support – once a Jerry Green dog, always a Jerry Green Dog – we are always there to help. 

• Meet the dogs waiting for someone like you to offer them a loving new home
• Help us care for and rehome more dogs by donating to one of our appeals
• Join us in keeping Jerry Green’s legacy growing by applying for a job or volunteering at one of our centres