Fosterers needed for cruelty case dogs

Special people in the north-east to fulfil a very special role

Animal care assistant Vikki Swan with Staffordshire bull terrier © RSPCA

18.07.11

We're looking for fosterers to look after dogs that are subject to cruelty cases in the north-east of England.

These dogs can be in RSPCA care for many months and would benefit from being in a loving home environment rather than kennels.

'Most of these animals have been through a lot'

RSPCA animal welfare manager for the north of England, Peter Bolton, said:

We're looking for very special people to fulfil what is a very special role.

These dogs come into RSPCA care until the court makes a decision on their future and can be with us for a long time, in some cases more than a year, while legal proceedings take place.

It's not good for any dog to be in kennels for a long period and most of these animals have been through a lot, having suffered neglect or abuse, so we want to be able to place them in a home environment.

The benefits really can't be overstated.

What you need to be a foster carer

Fosterers will need to live within easy reach of our two animal centres in the north-east:

RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre
in Middlesbrough, Cleveland
RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre
in Chester Moor, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

You must have your own transport in order to travel to vet appointments and monthly weigh-ins and health checks.

The RSPCA will provide all of the food and other necessary items.

Any other pets you may have need to be neutered and vaccinated.

Crucially, fosterers need to understand that in some cases the dog may need to be returned to its owner.

Meet some of our cruelty case fosterers

'We do the best for them whilst they're with us'

Diane Boyd fosters case dogs for our Felledge Animal Centre. Diane started fostering a year or so ago and has now had six or seven cruelty case dogs through her door. She said:

My own dog had died and I missed having a dog around the house.

I heard about a puppy that needed a foster home until the court case he was a part of was concluded, and I wanted to help.

Happily the court decided to confiscate him and place him in RSPCA care so he could be rehomed.

I often take on Staffies which I think get a bad press. I've had some lovely ones.

She added:

You do get attached, but I haven't adopted any of the dogs I've fostered.

There have been some happy endings and some sad ones.

I actually rehomed another dog from RSPCA Felledge a few months ago, a terrier-type called Milly, who is now helping me foster.

The way I look at it is that we do the best for them whilst they're with us.

'Kennels...just can't offer the same environment as being in a home'

Wendy Wakefield has been a dog walker for our Great Ayton Animal Centre for just over six years and fostered two former case dogs - a collie crossbreed and a bloodhound - following the conclusion of their cases.

Wendy actually went on to adopt the dogs, to go with her rescue Irish wolfhound, because having spent so long in kennels, the centre was struggling to find homes for them.

She said:

In both cases the dogs came home with me because they were so stressed in kennels, they were difficult to rehome.

I'm sure they'd have had a much better chance if they had gone straight out to a fosterer instead of into kennels, which, no matter how hard you try, just can't offer the same environment as being in a home.

Could you foster cruelty case dogs?

If you live in north-east England and are interested in becoming a fosterer for cruelty case dogs, please contact us for an application form and an information pack.

Contact: Natalie Wroe

Telephone: 0300 123 8825

Email: nwroe@rspca.org.uk