Dog Fosterer (West Hatch, Taunton)

We are looking for fosterers within driving distance of West Hatch, Taunton, TA3 5RT for dogs and puppies - as you will be required to attend the centre for vet checks etc. You would need to live within 30-45mins of the centre and be willing to travel back and fore, as and when required. The RSPCA has seen an increase in animals being abandoned post covid and through the cost of living crisis, and the number of animals being reported for cruelty and neglect has also risen. Having animals in foster homes not only improves their welfare, it allows us to help even more animals, by freeing up space in our Centres and Branches. Fostering is the temporary housing and care of an animal, in your own home. It is an extremely rewarding volunteer opportunity, and plays a vital role in the rehabilitation of animals, before they are ready to find their new home and be permanently adopted.

Some dogs simply don’t respond well to life in kennels and become stressed, affecting their health and wellbeing, whereas they thrive in foster homes. Some dogs may be too young, or are very nervous, or have veterinary or behavioural issues that need addressing before they can be adopted. Some dogs are subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, so are in our care whilst the case progresses. With these dogs we will not know how long the case will take to resolve and, very occasionally, animals are returned to their owner, in accordance with a court ruling.

As a dog fosterer you will play a vital role in looking after dogs until their case is resolved or they are ready to find a permanent new home. You'll be providing all daily care for dogs in your own home, ensuring a safe environment that will cater for their individual (sometimes complex) needs. RSPCA staff will match dogs with foster homes, and will give you all the information and support that you need for each fostered animal. The time commitment for each foster placement can vary from a couple of weeks to many months, with support provided to accommodate holidays and emergencies.

This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to the welfare of dogs, by being a vital part of the rehabilitation process.

What is required:

• Secure garden area / outside space.
• Ability to transport the dog to vet appointments, and the RSPCA establishment, as required.
• Have lots of love, time and patience to give to the dog, without leaving them for long periods.
• Have a willingness to undertake positive reinforcement training with foster dogs (with the support and guidance from RSPCA staff)

Please note that, whilst there are a variety of dogs in RSPCA care, a significant number may not be suitable for foster homes with existing dogs (and possibly other pets/young children) due to factors such as ongoing behavioural training needs. The needs of each animal are assessed on an individual basis.

What is provided:

• RSPCA will provide and fund all necessary equipment, food and veterinary care
• Ongoing help and support throughout the fostering process

We are ideally looking for people with previous experience of caring for dogs, and some understanding of their behaviours and welfare needs, although this is not essential - fosterers are trained and supported by RSPCA staff.

The attached booklet(s) will provide you with more information about what it is like to be an RSPCA dog fosterer. To apply, please complete our application form which will ask you to expand on your experience and home environment. Our application process is thorough, as fostering is a very responsible but rewarding role. It may take up to 30 minutes to complete the application.

If your application is successful, you'll be asked to record and upload a short video, or take some photos of your home environment to accompany your volunteer profile. A home visit may also be required prior to and/or during your time fostering. You’ll get online access to all the necessary training for your role, and we ask you to keep this up to date. You will also receive training from the RSPCA establishment that your foster animal is from, and they will provide you with a point of contact and ongoing support, training and advice. We have a suite of wellbeing resources available and can make reasonable role adjustments to support you in your volunteering.

We celebrate and respect the diversity of our RSPCA team and embrace the individual qualities, skills and experiences that everyone brings.