HOW TO APPLY I love fostering for the Freedom Project. TRUST If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Foster Carer My small contribution gives those then please apply via our website or call us direct. families hope that one day soon they FREEDOM Greater will be reunited with their beloved family pet and can live together in a 0800 298 9199 happy, safe and loving environment. I PROJECT get a great sense of fulfilment when it’s time for my foster to go home, 0800 083 4322 knowing that they are going back to a family that loves them. Email: [email protected] A pet fostering service Julie, Volunteer Foster Carer www.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk for women fleeing domestic violence

Becoming a Volunteer Foster Carer

The service the Freedom Project Dogs Trust is committed to Equal provided was really quick and efficient. Opportunities in all aspects of its work. It put my mind at rest whilst I was Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the going through a very difficult time. threat of unnecessary destruction. Registered Charity Numbers. 227523 & SCO37843 Susan, Service User Dogs Trust © 2012

DOG4536 DL leaflet for Freedom Project Carer V6 REPRO.indd 1 11/07/2012 12:56:38 DOGS TRUST FREEDOM PROJECT HOW THE FREEDOM PROJECT WORKS WHY VOLUNTEER TO FOSTER A DOG?

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, each year We receive referrals for dogs requiring temporary foster The enjoyment of caring for a dog without the we care for around 16,000 dogs at our nationwide network care because their owners are fleeing domestic violence lifetime commitment of 18 Rehoming Centres. Alongside this work our Freedom and going into temporary accommodation, usually a refuge. You will be helping dogs, women and children Project provides free temporary foster care for dogs Referrals are made by a domestic violence support service or escape violence and cruelty belonging to families by the family itself. who are fleeing domestic No cost to you as all food, equipment and The client completes a form about their pet and we use violence within Greater veterinary care are covered by Dogs Trust this to match it with a suitable foster carer taking into London, consideration things like; age of the dog, size, if the dog has A dog in the home can be a great motivator for and Yorkshire. previously lived with children or other pets. exercising and meeting new people in your local The dog is then collected by Dogs Trust and area taken directly to their new temporary foster A foster dog can become a great companion for home. We provide our volunteer foster carers with support via regular visits throughout the your own dog foster placement. At these visits we also take photographs of the dog which we send out Things to Consider... with a progress update to the family. You must be over This service is strictly confidential, so 18 years of age the dog’s owner does not know the whereabouts of their dog and the dog is Have experience always placed outside the area from where of caring for the family fled. a dog We receive fostering referrals for all breeds of dogs, from Be kind, patient, Jack Russell Terriers to larger breeds such as Staffordshire committed and Bull Terriers and Rottweilers. A lot of these dogs will be lively have a genuine family pets so volunteer foster carers need to be flexible love of animals about the breeds of dog they will accept as well as being able Be at home during to provide them with the support and consistency they need the day as we ask from a foster home. that the foster dog Research indicates that pets in homes where domestic Average foster placements last between six to nine months is not left for more violence exists are often targets for abuse by the perpetrator. and in most cases we plan to return pets to their owners than four hours Families fleeing domestic violence are usually unable to within three to five days of being requested. take their pets with them into a refuge or temporary Be able to commit accommodation, so in many cases they are reluctant to to the project for at leave their home until they are reassured there is somewhere least six months safe for their pets to go.

This service was set up in 2004 and to date has helped over 1000 pets. This has only been possible due to the continual commitment from our volunteer foster carers who give up their time to help these vulnerable pets. Photo by: Andy Catterall

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