Dogs Trust is appealing to animal lovers in West Lothian to help them care for more dogs in need by becoming a volunteer foster carer.
The charity is facing a record number of enquiries from people considering handing over their pet, and with its rehoming centres in West Calder feeling the strain, more than ever volunteer foster carers are needed to provide a temporary home for dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes.
Foster carers open their homes to dogs on a temporary basis until they are matched with their forever families. All costs are covered by Dogs Trust including food, bedding and vet treatment.
One such foster carer is John Dawson and his wife Mary who have been fostering for nearly two years. The couple have just welcomed their fifteenth foster dog into their home , a glamourous Saluki/cross Cindy.
John says volunteering for Dogs Trust “is a win, win, win situation – for the dog, for us and for Dogs Trust.”
Speaking movingly and passionately about being a foster carer, John says: “After our beloved Labrador died at the age of 14, the thought of having to go through another heart-breaking end of life experience was too much to bear. That’s when we discovered fostering with Dogs Trust Glasgow.
“Rather than looking after just one dog for the next 10 to 15 years, we are able to assist Dogs Trust with preparing many rescue dogs for their next permanent home, helping make the transition easier on the dogs and the adopters. Fostering is a steppingstone for rehoming. We provide a lot of valuable information about the dogs which helps them find the right permanent home.
“It can be challenging with every dog you care for having differing personalities and needs however the support and back up received from the charity is superb. I really enjoy the challenge of each individual dog, bonding, helping them with basic training, seeing the dog happier than in a kennel and all the while learning new things which will be of value for the next foster dog.
“To anyone considering fostering I would say what are you waiting for - do it. 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, I would find it very difficult to stop fostering now.”
There are currently over 50 foster carers in Scotland that receive support from the charity’s Home from Home foster teams at Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre, Dogs Trust West Calder Rehoming Centre and Dogs Trust Dundee, however there is a waiting list of dogs needing help in Scotland.
All foster carers must be 18 years or over and either have their own garden or access to an outside space. Foster dogs cannot live in homes with cats or with children under 10 years of age.
You can find out more about fostering for Dogs Trust on our website: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/fostering
Anyone interested in rehoming six-year-old Saluki/cross Cindy or any of the charity’s other current residents click here: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming
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