Dog Foster Carers Needed
Clare Kivlehan, Freedom Project Manager, explains why the project was set up: “Unfortunately women often remain in a violent situation as they fear their partner will deliberately harm their pet if they leave; it can come down to making the choice between your own safety and that of your pet. The Freedom Project allows women in this terrible situation to know that their beloved pet will be cared for so they can escape the violent household and set up a new life.”
Since Dogs Trust set up Freedom Project six years ago over 700 pets have been helped. Project staff now receive daily calls from referral agencies (including the domestic violence charity Refuge and several Social Services departments) and more dog foster carers are urgently needed.
Dog foster placements generally last around nine months. During the placement the Freedom Project provides all pet food and veterinary treatment free of charge. Total anonymity is assured, dogs will not be fostered in the area where the owner is from and the carer who fosters the dog will not know who the owner is or where they live. Freedom Project staff provide help and support and each placement is monitored on a regular basis.
Volunteers should already own a dog or have experience of looking after them, need to be available during the day to look after the client’s dog in their own home, and should be flexible about which breed they are willing to care for. In multi-pet households Cats Protection will care for the cats.
Cats Protection joined the scheme six years ago and has since helped nearly 200 cats, from both multi-pet and cat-only households, in the Greater London and Hertfordshire areas. Cat foster placements can last up to six months and Cats Protection provides care and veterinary treatment free of charge whilst providing anonymity and regular updates to the owner.
For more information regarding becoming a dog foster carer or to use this service, please contact freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
