Dogs Trust Shrewsbury is celebrating the dogged devotion of two doggie foster carers who have cared for 25 rescue dogs waiting to find their forever homes.
Dog lovers Pamela and Mill Collins started fostering in 2016 after Mill retired.
Their own dog, Geena, was getting older so didn’t need as much exercise as she did in her younger years. The couple visited Dogs Trust Shrewsbury to look for a canine companion for Geena that they could adopt. Instead, they saw that the rehoming centre was in need of foster carers and so signed up to the scheme there and then.
Three years later, they have fostered 25 rescue dogs and say it is the best thing they have ever done.
“We have loved every minute of it,” Pamela says. “We have had the pleasure of fostering puppies, older dogs, big dogs, small dogs. It’s wonderful! Sometimes we are tempted to adopt but that would potentially restrict us in terms of the dogs we could then foster, so we are carrying on fostering! To help so many dogs in need of that extra TLC whilst they wait to find their ideal home is a lovely thing to be able to do and it means we have gorgeous dogs in our lives. It really is the best thing we have ever done.”
The Home from Home scheme provides foster ‘parents’ for dogs who might find kennel life stressful, such as poorly or pregnant dogs, strays, puppies or older dogs who are used to a quieter life.
Since its launch, 65 dog loving families have taken on the role at Dogs Trust Shrewsbury, providing temporary homes before waving a fond farewell to a total of 277 dogs when they have found their special someone.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a doggie foster carer, please go to www.dogstrust.org.uk/fostering
