DOGS TRUST FREEDOM PROJECT DOG FOSTERING SERVICE FOR WOMEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE GREATER LONDON AND YORKSHIRE AREAS Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction

ABOUT DOGS TRUST  Founded in 1891 as National Canine Defence League  Name changed in October 2003 to Dogs Trust  The UK’s largest dog welfare charity  No healthy dog is ever destroyed  We rescue and rehome abandoned dogs through 18 rehoming centres in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales  We run educational programmes, neutering campaigns and work closely with dog wardens. Dogs Trust Darlington

Why Women, Children & Their Pets Need Our Help: Family Violence and Animal Cruelty  Pets in homes with domestic violence are often used by the abuser to coerce or threaten victims.  In recent studies of women entering refuges, nearly half reported that their pets had been threatened, injured, or killed by their partners.  Studies show that many women are afraid to or wont leave an abusive situation because they fear for their pet’s welfare  Refuges are unable to take in animals. No other fostering/kennelling schemes in London or Yorkshire  Not practical for dogs to be kennelled for long periods of time.

Dogs Trust Freedom Project: The Service  A dog fostering service for women fleeing domestic violence  Launched in June 2004 in the Greater London Area and in Yorkshire in 2005  Open to women going into refuges or temporary housing  Work closely with Women’s Aid and Refuge to promote our services to refuges  We take referrals from many agencies including the Police, Social Services, Health workers and Housing Officers etc  Cats Protection will care for cats that are referred to the project (in Greater London area only)

 All information concerning the client is confidential. The volunteer foster carer will not know the identity or whereabouts of the dog owner or vice versa  The project staff will be responsible for collecting the dog and delivering him to the volunteer foster carer  The dog owner will not be able to visit their dog while it is in foster care but will be kept updated on their dog’s wellbeing  The cost of dog food and veterinary expenses will be paid for by Dogs Trust  Foster dogs will be microchipped, vaccinated and in most cases neutered  Volunteer foster carers will receive ongoing support and home visits from Dogs Trust throughout the foster period  At the end of the foster period the project staff will collect the dog from the volunteer foster carer and return it to the owner Dogs Trust Freedom Project: How We Run The Project

Pet Fostering Projects For Women Fleeing Domestic Violence

Pet Fostering Services Dogs Trust Freedom Project cover The Greater London Area, Hertfordshire and Yorkshire RSPCA covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Avon, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Isle of Wight, Leicestershire, Rutland and South Lincolnshire Also Wales and West Paws for Kids covers Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Cheshire Wood Green Animal Shelter covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Pet Fostering Service Scotland covers Scotland

 BUSTER FOUNDATION covers North Wales PO Box 172, Mold. CH7 9BD Tel:  PADS AND PAWS covers East Northamptonshire C/o Community Safety Team East Northamptonshire Council Cedar Drive, Thrapston. NN14 4LZ Tel:  PET REFUGE covers Oxfordshire & Berkshire PO Box 619, Oxon. OX1 9AN Tel: Other Pet Fostering Services