Dog rehoming centre appeals for fosterers to offer pooches new life

Pet-lovers across Scotland are being urged to become dog fosterers to help a rehoming charity.

Dogs Trust’s West Calder rehoming centre is extending its home-from-home fostering scheme to new areas and staff are particularly looking for canine carers in Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife.

Staff say by taking care of a dog at home temporarily, people can help them get back on their paws and be one step closer to finding their “forever home”.

The appeal has been supported by Jayne and Jim Reape who have been fostering for Dogs Trust since 2017.

The Falkirk couple, who are currently caring for six dogs, said the process of giving a dog a new life is “so rewarding”.

Jayne and Jim Reape have been fostering for Dogs Trust since 2014. STV News

Mrs Reape told STV News: “You’re giving a dog a life when it hasn’t got one, you know, and it’s maybe never known one.

“It’s so rewarding. It is. It’s so rewarding to see the change in them.”

Mr Reape added: “When a dog comes here as a foster dog, it’s treated just the same as our own dogs.

“It goes out for walks with our dogs. Not just puppies, but big dogs. They sleep with our dogs, they eat with our dogs, so they’re treated just as part of the family.

“The idea is to get them socialised and make them a better dog, so somebody will love it someday.”

Susan Tonner, West Calder rehoming centre manager, said: “The home-from-home foster scheme is a very important part of our work finding new forever homes for every dog that comes into our care.

‘You’re giving a dog a life when it hasn’t got one, you know, and it’s maybe never known one.’
Jayne Reape, fosterer

“Some dogs are more suited to a home environment and these are the dogs we look to place into a foster home.

“Since the scheme started at our centre at the end of 2016, we have rehomed over 435 dogs through fostering with our aim being to rehome more than 100 every year.

“This equates to around 4000 days collectively per year when the dogs are in foster homes rather than kennels. Fostering allows us to really get to know our dogs so that we can match each individual dog with their perfect new home.

“We are excited to be extending our reach to new areas in Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife where we currently don’t have any foster homes.

“Fosterers must have time and patience to help the dog adjust to their new surroundings and also be prepared to say goodbye to the dog in the future which can often be the hardest part.

“But 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.”

Becoming a dog fosterer

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 said it supports the carer every step of the way providing food, bedding and any other practical things they need to make their new canine friend feel at home.

The charity also covers the costs of all veterinary treatment and will be working with local vets so any vet treatment won’t involve a lot of travel.

The length of time a dog is in foster care differs in each individual case.

Anyone interested in fostering or finding out more can contact West Calder’s home-from-home co-ordinator at hfhwestcalder@dogstrust.org.uk or call 01506 873 459 or Glasgow’s home-from-home co-ordinator at hfhglasgow@dogstrust.org.uk or call 0141 773 5130

More information about fostering can be found here.