Dogs Trust: 'Fostering changes lives for people and pets - more should do it'

A woman who fosters dogs has described the experience as “really worthwhile” as she called for more volunteers to sign up.

The Dogs Trust places dogs with families on a temporary basis as it searches for new permanent homes.

The charity’s Home from Home initiative has found new foster carers for 14 dogs since it was launched in Tayside three months ago.

Audrey Morrison has taken two dogs into her home in Perthshire as part of the scheme.

She said: “It’s really worthwhile. It’s a commitment but it’s not as big a commitment as having your own dog all the time.

“It’s good to help keep dogs out of kennels. The Dogs Trust is trying to minimise the amount of time a dog is in a kennel, so they are fostered and then adopted.”

The charity said staying in kennels can be stressful for some dogs and a home environment can produce more health benefits.

Chloe Dickson, from The Dogs Trust, said: “Anybody can become a foster carer, we will always try and find a dog that fits around your lifestyle and your home life.

“You can get in touch via email or phone us. We are happy to chat through the application process with you, it’s a simple form that we will help you fill out and then get in contact with you to arrange a home visit and have a get-to-know-you session.

“Once we have completed that, it’s quite a quick process for a dog to get placed.”

Dogs can be rehomed from their foster family in as little as five days, but for older dogs and pairs, it can take some time to find a perfect match.

Graham Thomson, a fosterer, said: “I had two dogs from The Dogs Trust, both at the same time, Tilly and Angel.

“I had them for nine weeks and from day one they were no bother at all and we had such a good experience.

“The lady who was coming to take them came out to visit them in our house, and we took the dogs to Baxter Park for an hour’s walk.

“Then the girls were taken to her house just outside Arbroath for a visit too and it was fantastic.”