Desperate for a dog, but can’t have one of your own? Nicola Scott has some great ideas to satisfy your need for a four-legged friend...
Please can we have a dog, please can we have a dog, please, please pleeeeeeease,” beg my children on a regular basis. The answer is always “not right now” because the cat would probably leave home and that would break my heart. However, I promised to look into how we could hang out with dogs more often and here’s what I discovered...
Sharing pets
If you’re desperate for a dog but you can’t commit to complete ownership, borrowing someone else’s could be the answer. Step forward ‘dog-sharing websites’. They are a bit like dating sites only instead of finding a life partner you find “fun and friendship” with a compatible canine. All borrowers are vetted (naturally), then after an email exchange followed by several getting-to-know-you sessions with a prospective owner, you’re up and running.
For the dog-denied it’s a win-win: you can specify types of the breed and if you’re not a good match you can try another one next time. You’re not a professional dog walker so you don’t have to commit to regular hours, just as and when it suits you and the owner. Plus, you get all the fun stuff and none of the costs, cleaning (apart from the obvious pick-ups in the park) and chaos.
Visit: borrowmydoggy.com or shareyourpet.co.uk
Holiday homes
We recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend with Duke, a lab/collie cross who was staying at my mother-in-law Rita’s house on his holiday while his owners were in France. Duke was living the dream – his bed was next to a radiator, he was taken out to country parks, and he had company all day, every day. The weekend we were there he spent a lot of time on his back having his belly rubbed. That’s got to be the best alternative to kennels. Rita’s companion was a friend’s dog, but if you would like to provide a holiday home for a dog, here’s where you can find out more.
Holidays 4 Dogs: holidays4dogs.co.uk/london; PetStay: petstay.net/become-a-carer; House My Dog housemydog.com/en-de/become-a-sitter
Helping those in need
The Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity that helps elderly and terminally ill people look after their pets. Across the UK thousands of volunteers walk dogs, feed cats, buy food, clean out hutches and generally do whatever it takes to help people keep their much-beloved friend close at hand. Volunteers are always wanted and very much appreciated.
Contact the Cinnamon Trust: cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers; 01736 757 900
Fostering
Fostering is the ultimate feel-good option for those who have space and time. You get the enjoyment of looking after a pet (some stay for days, others for months) until they can be found a forever home. The charity provides all the equipment you need – hutches, cages, feeding bowls etc – and pays any vet bills. You just have to provide the love. Word of warning: I defy anyone not to get attached. Letting go of your temporary friend can tug hard at the heartstrings.
Animal Rescue and Care (Arc) has been taking in unwanted, mistreated and abandoned pets since 2001. As numbers are always increasing, Arc relies heavily on fosterers. It mainly works with dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs, but also with small furries such as hamsters, rats and chinchillas, so even those with limited space can help out (animalrescueandcare.org.uk/foster; 07443 525243).
Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) has been rescuing cats and small furries for nearly 50 years. It requires fosterers who can provide homes for indoor and outdoor cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. Foster homes are also desperately needed for elderly pets unlikely to be adopted (haws-animals.org.uk/help-us/foster-an-animal; 020 8560 5443).
For more mature animals, the Oldies Club cares for dogs and cats that often find themselves in this position because their owners have either passed away or have moved into a home that can’t accommodate their four-legged companion. Some of the animals will be adopted while others may simply need a loving foster home to live out their days. The charity needs volunteers to foster and walk dogs, as well as help with home checking and transport (oldies.org.uk/get/fostering-dogs).
Volunteering
Cleaning out kennels and cages, walking dogs, grooming cats or even helping to care for injured wildlife – there is a raft of volunteering options on offer. The application process can feel a bit intrusive, but that’s because a lot of time and effort goes into training volunteers, and animal shelters depend on trust-worthy people who can commit to regular hours. It may take a while for positions to become available, but it will be worth the wait. Check the websites below for current vacancies.
Blue Cross bluecross.org.uk/volunteer-pets; Mayhew themayhew.org/get-involved/volunteering; PDSA pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer; RSPCA rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer; Wildlife Aid Foundation wildlifeaid.org.uk/become-volunteer
