Dog’s Trust Freedom Project
Caroline:
May 6th, 2007
I saw an advert in the paper the other day appealing for foster carers for dogs owned by women who have sought refuge from domestic abuse and I have been having a look at details of the project run by the Dog’s Trust. In a recents study of women entering shelters, over half said that their pets had been threatened by their abusive partners - a very effective way of exerting control over these women. Since the project started in 2004, 242 dogs have been fostered and 195 reunited with their owners once these women found accommodation. Being a foster carer sounds a very worthwhile job although in order to fulfil the criteria required by the charity you have to be able to undertake to be at home for most of the day (dogs should not be left for more than 4 hours at a time) and commit to the placement for at least six months. With our own dog approaching 15 I am not sure that I would want to commit straight away to having another dog after he dies but perhaps the foster scheme would suit us as well as helping a dog and its owner get through a distressing time.