Has anyone fostered dogs for Dogs Trust or RSPCA

[canteron]

I keep hearing all the kennels are full and think I have the time, space and experience to foster another dog (we have 2). OH basically on board - but with a few reservations.
Has anyone had any experience - especially with taking in relatively long term foster dogs where one partner is escaping a violent home but wants the dog back when settled?
Every time I have taken in a ‘temporary’ dog in the past I have ended up keeping them, but this time really can’t commit to that so need an organisation that will take them back if / when needed.

 

[Esmae]

My friend does this for DT. None of them stay very long with her. She usually seems to acclimatise them to the home environment and then they are found homes and go on to secure lives. I have no idea about the RSPCA. DT take the view that it is in their interests to keep the dogs moving on so that you can help them more.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Our local 'big' RSPCA does this when they have a few in awaiting court case. They def cant be adopted till case (usually in a different part of the country) is held, but you might end up with dog for quite a time.
Our local little branch has a list of foster carers and dogs are boarded out with them till ready for homing, usually needing either medical issues fixed at their expense, training, or a safe place till abandonment time of a week is up, or all of the reasons.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Friends of mine foster for DT. Mainly pups or dogs that are nervous . They have 3 dogs of their own (one is a failed foster ) who are great at teaching youngsters about life . They usually have them for at least a month , sometimes longer ,

 

[Thistle]

I foster for Spaniel Aid UK, they're great and if you need the dog moving on for whatever reason they'll sort it. Foster can be anything from a few weeks for assessment to long term with all vets fees paid. You provide food and bedding. Some dogs come with a boot full of toys, beds, leads etc. Some come with just a bit of string round their necks.

 

[cbmcts]

Supporting dog owners fleeing domestic violence | Dogs Trust

Find out about Freedom Project, our dog fostering service for people escaping domestic abuse.

www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dogs Trust have a specialist DV foster program but you may have to be prepared to have the dog for quite a long time before their family can get suitable housing to bring them home. It can be very hard to give them up even though you know that you are doing a fantastic thing for both family and dog. Do set your boundaries with the rescue and make sure that they have plans in place to take the dog back if it's not working out, that you are clear about what you are allowed to do regarding food, vet visits, holidays, social media and so on. If you take a dog that's up for rehoming, I would strongly advise that you do not allow meets and greets at your own home not just from a personal safety angle, although that is very important but also these visits can take up so much of your time.

Over the years, I've done everything from emergency short term foster - 4 bottle fed chi pups for a long weekend, that was knackering and I didn't like the broken sleep or how the cat looked at them. Big kudos to any one who has hand reared anything! - to long term hospice care for dogs that weren't expected to live long enough to make rehoming them fair. Lots of dogs came just for a short while for assessment or to recover from vet treatment - I hate the thought of a dog with a elizabethan vet collar in kennels - or just because they weren't coping in kennels. I never had a problem giving up the easier dogs to a new home but did fail to rehome some of the trickier ones... In the past I did foster for the bigger rescues but I can't work with their requirements at the moment, especially their need for you to be available for meets with new owners and vet visits with little or no consultation before hand. I also struggle with the rigidity of their policies but that is my issue not theirs TBF.

The dogs I had at the time were very good with random dogs coming to stay, in hindsight I really did expect a lot of my pack! Current pair are not so accepting and the cat is elderly so I tend just to take the emergencies or recovering fosters and work with the others in kennels as I have less time and space then I did previously.

 

[scruffyponies]

My daughter looked after a number of pets from a charity which helps women escape DV by allowing them to get the dog out too. They were fab. Food and vets paid etc. Only issue is that you can't post pictures online, for obvious reasons.

Abused Pet Refuge

Providing foster care for pets of those affected by domestic abuse. #RescueEveryone

abusedpetrefuge.com