While most of us will be spending Christmas Day opening presents and enjoying time with loved ones, a Dogs Trust Shrewsbury foster carer will be focusing all her attention on six tiny puppies whose mum couldn’t care for them.
Laura Ellwood welcomed the Border Collie pups into her home at just one week old and is hand-rearing them, feeding them every two hours and making sure that despite their tough start in life, they will be spending Christmas in a happy place, loved and cared for.
There are two girls, Feta and Brie, and four boys, Stilton, Camembert, Edam and Cheddar. Since finding their happy place in Laura’s home they have started putting on weight and by Christmas will definitely be finding their paws.
Laura, who has fostered for the charity for eight years, says: “They are absolutely beautiful. Sadly, their mum had to have an emergency caesarean and couldn’t care for them as she needed to recover from the operation, so they were handed over to the team at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury and I got the call!
“I have cared for newborn puppies before but six is the most I’ve had at any one time. I immediately realised they would be with us for Christmas but that’s fine. By then they should be walking, running and playing which will be lots of fun and wonderful to see.
“I love being a foster carer and if I can help these become healthy little pups ready to head off to their new homes in the new year, that will be the only Christmas present I need.”
Dogs Trust Shrewsbury’s Home from Home fostering scheme finds temporary homes for dogs that need special one-on-one care or time out from the hustle and bustle of the rehoming centre. All costs are covered by Dogs Trust, including food, vet treatment, grooming and bedding.
Brittany McAssey, Co-ordinator of the Home from Home fostering scheme at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury, said: “Knowing we can call on foster carers like Laura is fantastic. Older dogs or dogs that need veterinary treatment really benefit from being in foster, just like these gorgeous puppies. Also, it’s wonderful for newborn puppies to be cared for in a home environment as it means they get used to the everyday sounds of life in a home which is really important for them to be able to adapt to life with their forever families.
“Laura is making a huge commitment caring for these pups and the fact that her entire time on Christmas Day will be taken up looking after them and making sure they don’t get up to any festive mischief, is amazing. Every dog deserves to be in a loving, happy place for Christmas, and for life, and thanks to Laura the pups’ first Christmas will be wonderful. We can’t thank Laura enough.”
To find out more about fostering for Dogs Trust Shrewsbury, please go to www.dogstrust.org.uk/shrewsbury
