THE UK’s largest dog welfare charity is appealing for more dog lovers across Worcestershire to volunteer as foster carers.
Dogs Trust Evesham has said it continues to receive an increased demand from people facing the tough decision to rehome their dogs and is particularly seeking fosterers who can take on larger breeds or animals with specific requirements.
According to the charity, fostering a dog is a hugely rewarding experience, as it allows people to provide a loving home for a dog who may have had a difficult start in life.
Through the charity’s Home from Home scheme, foster carers open their homes to dogs on a temporary basis until they are matched with their forever families.
Costs for food, bedding, grooming, and any vet treatment are covered by Dogs Trust.
The charity looks after more than 11,000 dogs each year, and fostering helps Dogs Trust free up space in its rehoming centres, making room for even more dogs needing its care.
It also gives dogs a break from their rehoming centres and lets the charity see how each dog behaves in a home.
Suzanne Joy, from Warwickshire, has fostered 15 dogs for Dogs Trust Kenilworth over the last three years. She said: “Foster caring is a great and rewarding way to support Dogs Trust and the lovely dogs who are looking to find their forever homes.
“Dogs give you so much, and by fostering, you are helping lots of dogs who deserve a new home through no fault of their own – it’s such a great scheme to be part of.”
The call for foster carers comes after the trust announced on March 26 that an estimated 300 roles at the charity are at risk of redundancy to ensure its long-term financial sustainability. Amongst other measures it proposes to build on its fostering programme and refocus its prevention work supporting owners who have issues.
Foster carers need to be over 18, have their own garden or regular access to an outside space, and no children aged under 10 in the home.
Visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/foster for more information.
