FOSTER A DOG

We are always looking for fosterers to assess our rescue dogs. They will have lived outside most of their lives and many have never been shown love and kindness, with regular food or a warm bed.  The first week or so can be a challenge, but incredibly rewarding as they learn to love and flourish.

Save Our Spaniels pay for all veterinary care required. We look for people who are patient and able to offer basic training and love.  You do need to be around at least half of each day, have a neutered resident dog, secure garden with grassy area, families over 8 years of age and able to assess the rescues in order for us to find them a wonderful home or not, if you fail to part with them as many of our fosterers do. You will receive full admin support and advice, together with assistance from our highly respected behaviourist.

We do have the need for long term fosterers for the older rescues or ones with long term medical issues, again, someone around most of the day with resident dogs (in most cases) and older children would be the criteria.

PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR EMAILS GOING INTO JUNK/SPAM, please can you check that our replies haven’t been relegated to these folders.

Sometimes our foster Dads go above and beyond to keep their foster pup happy! (click below)

NOTES FROM A FOSTERER

Sarah Stone is fostering TEQUILA (November 2023). TEQUILA was a stray, scavenging off the streets to survive in Spain.

“The best bits about fostering are not always the most obvious. Seeing your pup come out of their shell and begin to trust you. Watching them wolf up their food, leaving the bowl sparkling clean and spending the next few minutes licking lips with satisfaction. Knowing the towel you’re engulfing them with when they come in from a walk soaking wet, is an act of kindness. Understanding there are regular times throughout the day when treats will be offered and meals given. Seeing them wallowing in a cosy, warm bed, looking safe and stress free.

These are all fairly obvious but the one that always gives me the most pleasure, is the sound of little paws, pitter pattering to the water bowl in the kitchen and hearing the contented slurp, slurp, slurp sound. It shows they know where the clean water is, it’s always there, they can help themselves as often as they like, when they like and it’s a safe place to drink. Little things make a lot of difference.”

KIM PHILLIPS has fostered 6 Bretons:-

“I started fostering for Save our Spaniels in September 2018, having been a member of the Facebook group for a couple of years. After chatting with my lovely husband, we decided that as I am at home for the majority of the time and having four Cocker Spaniels of our own, we were in the position to help an SOS Spaniel learn all about the pleasures in life, after having had such a rough start.

In the six months since September we have fostered six Breton/Brittanys, a breed, which until then, we had little knowledge or experience of. We have been completely bowled over by this loyal, loving and fun breed. Every single Breton we have welcomed, has been full of character and brought plenty of smiles and laughter to our home. So much so, that in December we adopted Marley, our third foster. It is such an amazing and rewarding thing to do and the SOS team are always there with advice and support if we should ever need it.

I shed a few tears every time one of “our” fosters finds their forever home, but we have met lots of lovely people since being involved in this way and the updates that we receive from their new families are heart warming and very rewarding.
Smiles all round!”

(some of Kim’s fosters - MARLEY, LUTHER, WAFFLES & DAWSON)

LAURA HURT, TRUSTEE

“Fostering does actually save lives.  If the rescue charity can’t find a fosterer in the UK, exit from the kill station may be delayed or cancelled.  They are the backbone of the organisation.  Having fostered over 250 SOS rescue dogs and met many more, it is a complete mystery how these abused, abandoned and beaten dogs love humans so much.  They flourish in a home environment within days and the ones that need the extra tlc take a larger piece of your heart away with them, when they are rehomed.  Please consider fostering, SOS Admin support will be with you every step of the way”.

(Some of Laura’s fosters - TRAVIS, SIDNEY, LILY & COCO)

SHARON DOBBS has fostered a dozen SOS rescues:-

“When I thought about fostering, I wondered if I would be able to do it? I doubt it very much!

It’s been over 2 years now and I’ve fostered a dozen or so, some easy, some not so, it can be tricky teaching them to trust, how to be a dog and to know that there is a much, much better and happier way to live. Then you start to see them flourish in your care, which is indescribable. People say its fulfilling, rewarding and it is, but also so much more than that. There can be lots of tears; sad tears when they arrive in a pitiful state, happy tears when they find their forever home and yet more sad tears when they leave, breaking your heart a little. But it’s all worth it! By helping just one dog, you are making a difference, especially to that one dog”.

(Some of Sharon’s fosters - RUFUS, ZAC, ANGEL & BAILEY)