Is fostering right for me?
Fostering a dog can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding opportunity. Your local Freedom team are here to give you all the support you need, so you can focus on being there for the dog you are fostering.
We've put together a helpful list of things to consider before you decide if fostering is right for you.
Do you have experience caring for dogs?
Sometimes, dogs who have come from an environment of domestic abuse need a little bit of extra care and attention. We’re looking for volunteers who already have experience looking after dogs in their own home who have that little bit of prior knowledge to help a foster dog settle in.
Can you commit to being around for a foster dog during the day?
We know life is busy, so you don't have to be in the house for the whole day, but we are looking for foster carers who can commit to not leaving the dog regularly for four hours or more. If you work from home or you’re retired, this could be ideal for you.
Can you foster a dog for 6-9 months?
Sometimes, it takes a little while for someone to resettle once they have left an abusive situation, so we’re looking for foster carers who can commit to welcoming a dog into their home for up to 6-9 months. If you are planning an upcoming holiday but are not able to take your foster dog, we can provide alternative care for your foster dog while you are away so you can always take a well-deserved break when you need it!
Do you have cats or small pets?
Unfortunately, we are not able to accept volunteers who have a pet cat at home but other pets including dogs and smaller pets (such as chickens, rabbits or exotics) can be considered.
If you have another small pet – give us a call and we can discuss how fostering a dog may be the right option for you.
Do you have children under 10 living in the home?
To make sure our foster dogs can settle comfortably into their temporary home, we ask that volunteers do not have any children under 10 living in the home,. If you have children who visit you however, please do get in contact or fill in an application form and we can chat through this in more detail.
Do you live anywhere in the South East, East Anglia, the Midlands, the North of England, Scotland or Wales?
You don’t need to travel anywhere to foster a dog with Freedom, as long as you can access a vet. We’ll bring the dog to you along with everything you need!
Ready to apply?
Freedom will be with you every step of the way in your fostering journey, whether you need a quick phone call to answer a query, more dog food, or a dedicated team member who you know will be there to help should you need them, we make sure you are always comfortable and supported, so you can focus on the dog.
"The support from the Freedom team is amazing, lots of useful advice is given and regular visits to make sure you are comfortable with your responsibilities. It makes the foster carer feel really wanted and appreciated." Freedom volunteer foster carer