Dogs on the Streets (DOTS), a volunteer-led, not for profit charity that helps  homeless and vulnerable people with dogs with a mobile veterinary surgery, free essential items, and a street dog fostering service, is calling for an exemption from the ULEZ charge after being forced to reduce their services. The charity, which operates in London and across the UK, is experiencing a rise in demand but the added cost of the ULEZ charge is putting the future of the charity at risk. 

As they are based on the border of the start of the expanded ULEZ zone on the A406, the volunteers have to drive into the zone frequently. The vehicles head into Central London to provide vital services, which incurs a £15 congestion charge on top of the £12.50 for each vehicle - that's a total of £40 every day as both vehicles are needed. DOTS already has significant outgoings as vet costs alone were £94,000 last year.

DOTS founder Michelle Clark: "I understand due to London's pollution why the ULEZ has been implemented, however there should be more exemptions. Donations are not going to our service but for paying ULEZ. As a charity that supports vulnerable people, we shouldn’t be paying it. Big charities are leaning on us as well. We don’t have any big PR or fundraisers. We're just a small team that looks at people as a name, not a number. Now we have to say no and squeeze everything in to save costs."

DOTS has two specialised vehicles that now incur the ULEZ charge. One is a custom veterinary vehicle that they take into Central London to bring vital care to the homeless and other vulnerable people with dogs. The other is a transport vehicle kitted out with cages in the back to transport dogs when the clients can't take care of them.

DOTS are an approved LAS defibrillator provider and the team provide an important link in the chain of survival for out of hospital cardiac arrests, providing not only excellent basic life support, but also early cardioversion before the ambulance service arrive on scene.

DOTS is often called to look after a dog while its owner gets treatment in hospital or in other situations where they can't take care of their pet. The charity offers a unique fostering service, which is popular as clients can get the help they need and rest assured their dog will return to them.

Now, with the ULEZ charge added on top of all that, the charity is having to deny care to vulnerable people and their dogs. Unfortunately, the charity doesn't meet the criteria to be exempt as their vans aren't for community transport or emergency vehicles. Michelle argues that the charity supports emergency services, including the police, ambulances and hospitals, and vulnerable people so should be exempt. Using the scrappage scheme would be no good either as it would cost £40,000 to make a new special vet van and £9,000 for the transport van.

We call upon Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to exempt Dogs on the Streets from paying ULEZ charges.