A dedicated doggie foster carer who has helped care for more than 30 rescue dogs has rekindled her love for painting. She says it’s all down to the four-legged friends she has brought into her home. Jo Heather from Salisbury started fostering dogs through Dogs Trust Salisbury's Home From Home scheme and has hand painted a picture of every dog that has come into her home. Collies, terriers, puppies and oldies, she has captured the likeness of every one whilst they sleep. Jo said, "I studied Fine Art a few years ago but life got in the way and I had not picked up a paint brush for some time. But once I started fostering, our doggy visitors inspired me to revive my love of painting. I have always been inspired by nature, wildlife and animals, so I like to use the time to sit quietly during an evening, a tired dog curled up by my side and draw and paint. " “As my daughters were growing up, we would often visit the centre with donations and were always in awe of those who worked there and the valuable role Dogs Trust played. During one visit two years ago, we saw a poster highlighting the need for foster homes and thought that might be a way to get involved and play a positive part in a dog’s life.
After a visit from the Home from Home coordinator, Emma Sainsbury, our minds were made up. She explained the support we would receive from Dogs Trust and the type of dogs who benefit from being in a foster home. It is so rewarding to see a dog starting to trust, to learn to play again or start to enjoy walks after being nervous of the outdoors. We have attended various Dog School classes that have helped with our understanding of dogs, but above all we just open our home and enjoy offering a safe space, full of care and kindness. We have had wonderful dogs of all ages and we are always so happy to see them find their forever homes.” Emma Sainsbury said, “We are incredibly lucky to have a fantastic network of foster carers like Jo. The Home From Home scheme is there to help our doggies whilst they wait to be adopted, but it’s also so heartwarming to see how the dogs can help their foster carers discover things about themselves too. We believe a dog is for life and our fantastic fosterers really do show our dogs the meaning behind this statement, giving them a safe, loving environment to enjoy whilst they wait for their new families. For anyone who is a dog lover but dog-less and who wants a four-legged friend in their life but can’t commit to having a dog long-term, fostering could be the perfect solution.” See dogstrust.org.uk for more information.
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Staff at Dogs Trust Evesham are appealing for a loving new home this Easter for a three-year-old Jack Russell with a striking resemblance to the Easter Bunny. Dinky's lovely image (above) courtesy of the Dogs Trust
Despite Dinky’s supersized ears being the talk of the rehoming centre and the fact he’s been listening out for a new home since he arrived nine months ago, they haven’t helped him sound out a new home yet. The fun-loving, lively Terrier is now hoping that a new owner will come forward and help put a spring in his step this Easter weekend. Dogs Trust Evesham’s Rehoming Centre manager, said: “With unusually big ears, Dinky could easily be mistaken for the Easter Bunny but instead of hunting for eggs this Easter, he is on the lookout for a home to call his own. Lots of people have commented on his striking appearance and we are hoping that all this attention will result in a new home.” “Dinky is looking to find a loving home to call his own. He’s definitely one for the Terrier fans, he’s extremely clever and loves to learn, he’s toy mad and loves to be out and about exploring. He’s always on the go! He’s not a typical lap dog but does like to be affectionate with his nearest and dearest. “Dinky does have partial vision in one eye, but this doesn’t hold him back from living life to the full, running around in his garden and showing off his new tricks.” Dogs Trust Evesham take in hundreds of dogs every year but some, like Dinky, often need a little extra TLC and help from the Training and Behaviour team in supporting them through bespoke training programmes to help them flourish. Dinky has been doing so well with his training, the team say he’d make a fun and entertaining companion and are looking forward to the day, in the not too distant future, when he finds the forever home of his dreams. Dinky will need a patient owner, preferably with someone who has experience of owning a lively Terrier and can help him settle into a new routine. He will need to be the only pet in an adult-only home and will need his new owners to be around for most of the day with time built up gradually. He loves the company of people and enjoys lots of fuss, attention and playtime. Dinky is relaxing in a quieter area of the rehoming centre so anyone interested in giving him a home would need to contact Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 572666 and chat to one of the Training and Behaviour Advisors to find out if you could be the perfect match. Filmed across Battersea's three centres in London, Old Windsor, and Brands Hatch, animal lover and Battersea Ambassador Paul O’Grady was star - along with the lovely canines - of a TV series ‘For the Love of Dogs’. Paul met some of the many Battersea dogs looking for help, love and new homes. Towards the end of last year, the Mayhew Home had a surprise delivery when their Animal Welfare Officers brought in seven unwanted Jack Russell terriers. The team suspect they were from a puppy farm. Word spread among the staff that there were some adorable new arrivals and everyone was keen to catch a glimpse and hopefully sneak a quick cuddle. They were placed into the expert hands of the vet and kennels teams to look after until it was time to find their forever homes. all images (c) Mayhew Every cat and dog that comes in to Mayhew is seen at the on-site Community Vet Clinic and given a full health check, vaccinations and flea and worm treatment. Once the puppies had been examined, naming them was the next task. Such sweet bundles should be named after treats, so : Fudge, Cookie, Pudding, Pie, Custard, Waffle and Truffle. Over the next few weeks, the puppies kept the kennels team busy – imagine the fun and the mess! Lots of playing and socialisation took place and the puppies made the most of the indoor doggy play area, full of exciting things to explore and stimulate them physically and mentally. At nine weeks, all seven puppies were neutered in Mayhew's vet clinic ready for rehoming. The Adoption team works hard to ensure each dog ends up with the perfect family and always provide a profile of the animal on the website rehoming pages to ensure the best fit can be found. Lots of people wanted to adopt these cuties and once new owners had been interviewed and home checks completed, the puppies were waved off to begin life in their new homes. Do you want a sneak peak at what happened next? Cassie (formerly Custard) landed on her paws with her new owner, Antonia. ‘Cassie loves her walks and meeting people and other dogs, and there is nothing she likes doing more than snoozing on the sofa after walking us around the park or playing with her cat toys. Cassie is a lovely, loving puppy, who everyone adores.’ Alfie (was Fudge) was adopted by a London family. His new owner, Conrad, explains how Alfie is now very much part of their family: ‘Alfie is happily running rings all around us with so much zest, love and enthusiasm. He is such a lovable, cute, ultra-friendly and good natured puppy, with a typical Jack Russell cheeky (sometimes naughty!) comic character. My family, and Alfie of course, are very grateful to Mayhew for all their good work and for bringing us together.’ Maggie (was Truffle) found a forever home with loving owner Emma. A few days after adopting her, Emma said, ‘Maggie has already settled in and is a credit to every lovely person at Mayhew who’s looked after her.’ A short while after her adoption, Maggie came back to Mayhew to meet the Home's new Patron, The Duchess of Sussex, on her official visit. |
AuthorI'm Gilly, award winning journalist, travel writer, 13 x author. Credits include: Telegraph, Mail, CNN, Express, BBC mags, Country & Town House, The Scotsman, World of Cruising & countless others Categories
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