Dogs Trust has extended its successful Home from Home Scheme into Dundee and the surrounding counties of Angus, Perthshire and Fife and is calling on locals to get in touch.
Megan Wilkinson has just been employed as Dogs Trust’s first Home from Home Co-ordinator in Dundee and is hoping to hear from dog loving locals who are willing to become foster carers, opening their hearts and homes to dogs that await their forever home.
Megan said: ““Our Home from Home foster scheme is a very important part of Dog Trusts work finding new homes for every dog that comes into our care. Some dogs are more suited to a home environment than kennels and these are the dogs that we look to place into a foster home.
“The long-lasting impact of the pandemic means some dog owners are finding themselves having to make very difficult decisions which may include giving up their pets. We need to be there for as many people and dogs as possible so increasing the number of foster carers we have is a positive way to increase our support during this challenging time.
“Expanding Home from Home into Dundee and the surrounding areas will allow us to provide more support in Scotland. I’m excited to be working within the local community to find forever homes for more dogs within Tayside, Perthshire, Fife and Angus and am keen to hear from locals who want to help us.”
Susan Tonner, West Calder Rehoming Centre Manager said: “Having the option of foster homes locally in and around the Dundee area is fantastic. It allows us to help local dogs more readily and also offers local people the opportunity to adopt a dog closer to home.
“Since the Home from Home scheme started at West Calder at the end of 2016, we have rehomed over 500 dogs through fostering. Last year we found new homes for 130 dogs through the scheme thanks to the wonderful help of 20 fosterers. We are about to place our first dogs into foster in the Dundee area with our aim being to rehome over 100 every year.
“A lot of our current fosterers don’t want the long-term commitment of owning a dog but miss having a four-legged friend in their life. Fostering can be a perfect solution where you care for a rescue dog on a temporary basis. Thanks to our fosterers, we really get to know our dogs and how they are in a home environment, which enables us to match each individual dog with their perfect new home.
“To foster you must have the time and patience to help the dog adjust to their new surroundings and also be prepared to say goodbye when their forever home is found. As a fosterer you can be assured you have played a pivotal role in the successful happy future life of the dog and your next foster dog could be patiently waiting for your help. We couldn’t do our vital work without our fosterers and we are so incredibly grateful to have their loyal support.”
Fosterers must have a love of dogs, a secure garden area, be at home most of the day and preferably not have young children. Dogs Trust will support you every step of the way providing food, bedding and any other practical things you need to make your new canine friend feel at home. The charity also covers the costs of all veterinary treatment and is working in partnership with Parkside Veterinary Group in Dundee. The length of time a dog is in foster care differs in each individual case.
Dogs Trust is currently looking for Home from Home fosterers in Dundee, Tayside, Perth and Kinross, Fife, Angus and Kincardine.
Anyone interested can call Megan on 01506 873459 or email [email protected]
