Dogs Trust issues urgent appeal for foster carers in Wales to help dog owners fleeing domestic abuse

A specialist dog fostering scheme which supports people fleeing domestic abuse is issuing an urgent plea for more foster carers in Wales after seeing a 23% increase in demand for its services over the last 12 months.

The Freedom Project, managed by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, offers a lifeline for dog owners who are escaping from domestic abuse. It provides temporary foster homes for dogs, enabling survivors to access safe accommodation without the fear of what may happen to their dog if they cannot take them with them.

Pets are often abused and, in some cases, killed by the perpetrator of domestic abuse in order to control and coerce. In addition to the physical abuse that pets may suffer, Dogs Trust found that 97%*  of professionals working in the domestic abuse sector also said that animals are often used as a means of controlling someone experiencing domestic abuse.

So far this year, Freedom Project volunteers have fostered 185 dogs, allowing 144 people to flee domestic abuse.

Due to the increase in demand on its services, Dogs Trust’s Freedom Project now urgently needs additional volunteer foster carers so that the scheme can support more people. All costs are covered by Dogs Trust, including vet bills, food, treats, grooming and bedding.

Involvement in fostering through the project is always kept completely confidential to protect both the dogs and the foster carers. Dogs are not fostered within the area that the owner is from and the foster carer will not know who the owner is or where they live.

Neil is a volunteer currently fostering for the Freedom Project:  

“We lost our own dog about five years ago, and while we had a dog-shaped hole in our lives, we didn’t want to commit to another dog of our own. My wife found out about dog fostering for the Freedom Project online and we realised this was something we could do to support people in a difficult situation.  

 ”Being a dog fosterer gives us the opportunity to be more sociable outdoors, and it’s incredibly rewarding seeing the dogs settle and to know you have provided a safe place for the dog. The owner doesn’t need to worry about where their dog is or how they are being cared for, and they are much-loved part of a family until they get to go home.” 

Laura Saunders, Freedom Project Manager at Dogs Trust said:  

“We’ve seen first-hand the ways that perpetrators use dogs to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten within abusive relationships. This is incredibly frightening for survivors and is often aimed to leave people isolated.  

“By providing temporary foster homes for dogs, we support survivors to access safe accommodation with the reassurance that their dog will be taken care of until they can be reunited.  

“Whilst we are pleased to have been able to help so many people, there is still very much a need for our service, and we urgently need more foster carers across the UK so that we can continue this life-saving work.”  

The Dogs Trust Freedom Project is looking for volunteers who are at home during the day, potentially people who are retired or work from home. They must have some experience of caring for dogs,, and be able to commit to fostering a dog for at least six months.

If you think you can help or would like more information on the service, visit www.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk or call  0808 196 6240,

During the foster placement the Freedom Project will cover the cost of pet food and veterinary treatment.

Total anonymity is assured, dogs will not be fostered in the area where the owner is from and the carer who fosters the dog will not know who the owner is or where they live.

Freedom Project staff provide help and support and each placement is monitored on a regular basis.

Owners receive updates on how their pet is doing whilst in foster care, reassuring them that they are being loved and well cared for until they are in a position to have them back.

About Dogs Trust   

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and normally cares for around 14,000 dogs across its network of 21 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin. Dogs Trust has a non-destruction policy and will never put a healthy dog to sleep. The charity also focuses its efforts on understanding dogs and sharing that knowledge with the wider public to prevent problem behaviours that can result in relinquishment or abandonment. We are working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.