Urgent appeal for cat and dog fosterers in Scotland to help owners fleeing domestic abuse

An urgent appeal has been issued across Scotland for cat and dog fosterers to help support pet owners fleeing domestic abuse.

Freedom, managed by the Dogs Trust, and Lifeline, managed by Cats Protection, are looking for volunteers to open their homes to pets whose owners have suffered abuse.

Since the services launched 20 years ago, more than 4,500 dogs and cats have been supported, enabling thousands of domestic abuse survivors to know their pet is safe.

However, both charities, despite expanding services “significantly”, say an increase in demand has meant that more volunteers are needed.

Annika, who was supported by Dogs Trust’s Freedom scheme, said her dog Jake was also subject to daily physical abuse including being punched and thrown against furniture.

She said: “Both me and Jake were suffering domestic abuse on a daily basis.

“The level of violence was extreme; it was physical to the point that I was punched and kicked but he was also controlling and would emotionally abuse me.  

“I’d had Jake from just a few months old and he was like my baby, he’d follow me everywhere.

“After a while my perpetrator realised that if he couldn’t get to me, he would harm Jake. Jake was also punched, had wood broken over his head, he’d get picked up and thrown against cupboards. 

Both charities, despite expanding services “significantly”, say there has been an increase in demand. iStock

“There were times when I tried to leave but this would be when the levels of physical violence would escalate and end really badly for me.

“I knew that if I left without Jake, it would end very badly for him too. He made threats to say that if I ever left that he would kill Jake or let him roam out on the streets. 

“I contacted a domestic violence helpline and I was given a safeguarding social worker, so both my care co-ordinator and social worker wanted me to leave straight away, but I couldn’t without Jake.

“I wasn’t going to leave without him. This was when the social worker told me about Freedom.  

“I want to say a massive thank you to the volunteers who make this service possible. It’s fantastic what they do, it enabled me and Jake to leave a really awful situation and if they weren’t there, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Laura Saunders, freedom manager at Dogs Trust, said:  ”We’ve seen first-hand the ways that perpetrators use dogs to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten as a tool to maintain power and control over their victim.

“This is incredibly frightening for survivors and is often aimed to leave people isolated.  

“By offering this service, we are able to support survivors to access safe accommodation with the reassurance that their dog will be taken care of until they can be reunited.

“However, we are busier than ever and now need more volunteers to open up their hearts and homes and provide temporary foster care so that more people can flee domestic abuse, knowing their much-loved pets will be looked after until they are safely settled.”

Amy Hyde, lifeline service manager at Cats Protection, said:  ”Over the past 20 years, we have been proud to support so many survivors and their beloved pets, who mean absolutely everything to them. 

“Sadly though, demand for our services is only increasing and now more than ever we need more volunteers to step forward and join our fostering teams.

“Fostering comes with so many benefits. There’s absolutely no cost and it’s perfect for anyone who would like to enjoy the company of a pet without the long-term commitment.

“Ninety-five percent of our foster carers tell us that fostering with Lifeline has had a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

“While it may be emotional to say goodbye when the survivor is safe and ready to take their pet back, it’s incredibly rewarding for fosterers who know they have supported a pet and their family to get to safety, at a time when they so desperately needed support.”  