PETS FOSTERING SERVICE

As part of The Links Group, some charities offer pet fostering services specifically for pets belonging to women fleeing from domestic violence.  

For many women and children who leave violent relationships, the options open to them regarding their pets are very limited.  

The services listed below ensure pets are cared for in a volunteer foster carer’s home until their owner is able to be reunited with them.  All placements are strictly confidential.

In a survey by pet fostering charity Paws for Kids:

·        66% said their abuser had threatened to harm their pets

·        94% said if there had been a pet fostering service it would have made it easier for them to leave the violence, and so spare themselves and their children more abuse.

                                               Pet Fostering Leaflet

Dogs Trust Freedom Project Greater London

PO Box 50208, London EC1V 7XP.       Tel: 0800 298 9199   

Email:  freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk      Website: www.dogstrust.org.uk

Areas covered: Greater London and parts of Hertfordshire.

Dogs Trust Freedom Project Yorkshire

PO Box 185, Leeds LS11 1AL

Tel: 0800 083 4322       Email: freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk     Website: www.dogstrust.org.uk

Areas covered: All of Yorkshire.

Pets fostered:  Dogs Trust will only arrange foster care for dogs over the age of six months under this scheme.  Temporary care for cats can also be arranged with Cats Protection through the Freedom Project in Greater London only.

How to access scheme:  Referrals are taken from agencies and/or direct from the owner provided they supply confirmation they are fleeing due to domestic violence. i.e. letter from Social Worker or Police Crime Reference Number or Court Order.

The process:  A Dog Information Form asking specific details about the dog’s habits and behaviour has to be completed by the client before we can find a suitable foster home.  In addition a legal contract has to be signed by the owner agreeing to our terms and conditions.  We cannot foster dogs that behave aggressively. 

Food/Vet expenses:  All foster dogs are registered with their carer’s nearest vets and will go for an overall health check at the beginning of the foster placement.  All veterinary costs will be paid by Dogs Trust and if a dog is not neutered or vaccinated this will be carried out as soon as possible.  Cost of dog food and any canine equipment required such as beds and bowls etc will be supplied by Dogs Trust.

Length of placement: Foster placements are for an average of 6-9 months whilst the women are waiting to be re-housed.  If the owner decides it’s in the dog’s best interests not to take it back, we can make arrangements to re-home through one of the charity’s centres.

Paws for Kids

PO Box 329, Bolton BL6 5FT               Tel/Fax: 01204 698 999               Email: info@pawsforkids.org.uk       Website: www.pawsforkids.org.uk

Areas covered: North West region – Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside.

How to access scheme:  If pets are part of the family, referrals can be taken directly from women fleeing domestic violence or from any of the agencies that may be contacted for help; this includes Refuges, Help-lines, Police Domestic Violence Units, Social Services, Victim Support, Housing Advice Centres, Hospitals & Clinics etc.

The process:   A form must be completed with pet’s details, including: vaccination/neutering status, pet’s size, breed, behavioural problems, socialisation with other animals & children. Equipment owner is providing.

Contact details for refuge/hostel and key worker as appropriate.

Pets fostered:         All domestic pets - dogs, cats, small furries, birds, fish etc. Referrals for un-neutered cats & dogs are only accepted with the owner’s agreement to neuter.

Dogs neutered on ‘Dogs Trust’ vouchers

Cats neutered by Paws for Kids

We positively encourage the neutering of all Rabbits- but are only able to do so with contribution towards cost from the owner

Food/Vet costs:  Owners are asked to contribute towards the costs of food & any veterinary treatment their pet may need.

                         Kennelling:  At present Paws for Kids is unable to provide kennelling therefore can only accept referrals for dogs/cats that are suitable for placing with pet foster carers when such a pet foster carer is available.

                     Length of placement:  Pets are fostered for the length of time women are in refuge/hostel, the average being 4-5 months. When women move in to a new property, pets can be fostered for an additional 2-3 weeks to allow for repairs/decorating etc.

                    Re-homing:   If a pet is unclaimed or woman leaves the refuge and does not notify the charity, the pet will be rehomed via local sanctuaries.

                           RSPCA Pet Retreat

RSPCA Regional Headquarters, Black Hat Lane, Exeter, Devon EX2 9TA.              Tel: 07715 540182

    Email: csouthwell@rspca.org

 Areas covered: Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol,

Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey

Pet Retreat

PO Box, Peterborough, PE1 5SZ

Tel: 07910 721797    Email: petretreat@southwitham.com

 Areas covered:  Leicestershire, Rutland and South Lincolnshire

How to access scheme: Referrals for established family pets, from any agency providing the person is going into a refuge.

The process: Paperwork to be completed by the pet’s owner at the point the pet is collected. Details of vaccination/neutering status, behavioural problems and socialisation with other animals/children required.

Pets fostered: We will endeavour to foster any established family pet.

Food/Vet costs: Owners are encouraged to contribute towards the cost of their pets’ keep on a regular basis, to ensure the owner is able to maintain responsibility for the pets and to continue to budget for their return.

Kennelling: There will be a 10 day assessment period in which time all veterinary treatment will be carried out.

Length of placement:  This is on average 6 months, however if we are unable to foster the pet (eg. Un-neutered pets and those with behavioural problems) alternative arrangements will need to be made.

Wood Green Animal Shelters

Godmanchester, Cambs PE29 2NH

Tel 08701 90 40 90        Email: alandurrant@woodgreen.org.uk   Website: www.woodgreen.org.uk

Area covered:         East Anglia, East Midlands

Pets fostered: All domestic animals from people fleeing domestic violence.

How to access scheme:  Owner must be going into a refuge and confirmation supplied plus contact details of refuge/Keyworker.  A legal form must be signed by the client.  At all times the animals belong to the owner.

Food/Vet costs:  Owners are requested to make a contribution to these costs.

The Buster Foundation

Details To Be Confirmed

Pet Fostering Service Scotland

Tel: 01877 331496             Website: www.pfss.org.uk

Covers Scotland