Not Just For Christmas

We all know the slogan that a dog is not just for Christmas, but this special time of year is a great time to think about giving the gift of freedom by fostering a dog through the Dogs Trust Freedom Project. Essex Life finds out more

WE ALL KNOW that Christmas is a time for giving. Whether exchanging presents with loved ones, donating to a charity or spending time with the lonely or less fortunate, it’s safe to say that the festive season provides plenty of opportunity for acts of goodwill.

While families gather up and down the country to celebrate with loved ones, two local dog lovers will be going the extra mile to give back at Christmas, by opening up their homes to care for dogs whose owners have escaped domestic abuse, as part of the Dogs Trust’s Freedom Project.

This innovative pet fostering scheme provides vital support to those fleeing domestic abuse by placing the dog at risk into the home of a volunteer foster carer who will care for them until they can be safely reunited with their loving owner. Many refuges are unable to accept pets so this important pet fostering service gives pet owners the peace of mind that their dog will be well cared for until they are rehoused and able to take their beloved pets back.

The project, which begun in 2004, launched in Essex last year and, over the past 12 months, 15 local dogs have been fostered on the scheme and 13 local families have been helped by the service enabling them to flee domestic abuse. The Essex service now accounts for 43% of dogs fostered across the whole of London, Hertfordshire and Essex and the charity hopes to inspire more local dog lovers to consider fostering a dog.

Amy Hyde, Dogs Trust’s outreach projects manager, explains: ‘Fostering a dog as part of The Freedom Project can be incredibly rewarding – especially as it means you are playing a vital role in helping those fleeing domestic abuse by caring for their dog until they are safely rehoused. The Freedom Project relies on the help of our wonderful foster carers all year round, but whose support is even more important at this time of year.