What is the Freedom Project?

Before you refer your dog to the Freedom Project

At Dogs Trust we understand how difficult it is to leave an abusive home, particularly if you have a dog. Our Freedom Project is here to help by providing a free and confidential dog fostering service in Greater London & the Home Counties, Yorkshire, the North East & North West of England and Scotland.

If you refer your dog to the Freedom Project and we are able to help, we will place your dog into the home of a volunteer foster carer for up to six months, enabling you to flee to safety without the worry of what will happen to your pet. The service is free to use and all your dog’s expenses, such as their food, veterinary bills, toys and treats, will be covered by Dogs Trust while they are being fostered with us. Once you are safely rehoused, we will return your dog to you.

There are some important points to consider before you refer your dog to us. If you would like to discuss any of these, please give us a call and a member of our Freedom Project team will talk you through them.

• We can only accept referrals for dogs aged over 8 months and you must have owned your dog for at least 6 months. If your dog is a puppy you may want to consider permanent rehoming, which we may be able to help you to arrange

• For safety and confidentiality reasons you will be unable to visit your dog while they are on our project but we will send you regular photos of your dog and keep you updated on how your dog is getting along

• If your dog has not yet been neutered and microchipped we will arrange for this to be done while they are on our project

• We are unable to accept referrals for dogs that are aggressive towards people or persistently aggressive towards other dogs and animals

Greater London & Home Counties

0800 298 9199

Yorkshire

0800 083 4322

North East

0300 303 3497

North West

0300 303 4139

Scotland

0808 169 4315

freedomproject@dogstrust.org.ukwww.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk

Photography: Richard MurgatroydRegistered charity numbers: 227523 & SC037843

A dog fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse

Dogs Trust Freedom Project

How to refer your dog to the Freedom Project How to Contact UsSafety and Confidentiality

Our Volunteer Foster Carers

Our Freedom Project Team

If you would like to refer your dog to the Freedom Project there are a number of things we will need from you but

we are here to help you every step of the way.

We understand that this is a challenging time for you and that referring your dog to the Freedom Project is a big step.

If you have any questions or concerns about the project, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Your safety is important to us so we take steps to ensure you cannot be traced through your dog.

The Freedom Project is staffed by an experienced, trained and supportive female-only team who are here to help you and your

dog throughout the referral process and foster placement.

We have been helping people and their pets for many years and we are used to placing dogs of all breeds, shapes and

sizes into foster homes.

Step 1: Call us

Please call us so that we can talk you through how the project works and find out more about you and your dog. If we are able to help, we will then send you a form to complete about your dog and our Client Service Conditions which you will need to agree to.

Step 2: Complete the form

You will need to send us back your completed dog information form as well as confirmation from your support worker or the Police that you are fleeing domestic abuse and going into a refuge or supported housing.

If you are referring a Staffordshire bull terrier or a bull breed cross to the Freedom Project, we will also ask you to send us photos of your dog at this stage. A member of the Freedom Project team will explain what we need.

If your dog has ever travelled outside of the UK we will require information about their travel and veterinary history and in most cases blood tests will need to be carried out prior to accepting the dog onto the Freedom Project. We can help you to arrange this and we will cover the costs. A member of our team will explain everything to you.

Step 3: We will match your dog

We will match your dog to one of our volunteer foster carers and make arrangements to collect your dog from a safe location.

• The volunteer who fosters your dog will not be given any of your details and you will not be given their details

• To maintain safety you will be unable to visit your dog while they are in foster care

• Your dog will not be fostered in the area where you come from or have previously lived

Our team of experienced and dedicated volunteer foster carers are here to help you and your dog. They understand the difficult situation you are in and are happy to love and care for your dog until you are in a position to take them back.

Before we accept someone as a foster carer on the Freedom Project, we carry out a thorough application process which includes a home interview and reference check. We only use foster carers who are at home for most of the day and have experience of caring for dogs.

• We will pick your dog up from a safe location in an unmarked vehicle

• We advise you not to tell friends or family members where your dog is if they could be in touch with the person you fled from

Step 4: Monthly updates

Once your dog is in their new foster home we will visit them within the first week to make sure they have settled in. We will then visit monthly and send you regular updates and photos so you know how they are getting on. Your dog can stay on the project for up to 6 months.

Step 5: We will return your dog to you

When you are ready for your dog to come back to you, we will return them to you at a safe location.

“Without the Freedom Project

I don’t know what I would have done. I would never have left my dogs behind as I think he would have harmed them.

I’m so grateful for everything the Freedom Project did for me, and that

I was able to get my dogs back.

Freedom Project Client “

We love fostering for the Freedom Project. The fact that you are helping the dog’s owner, who is going through a hard enough time without

thinking they may lose their dog, is a really nice feeling.

Volunteer Foster Carer, Emma

“When a dog comes onto the

Freedom Project, our number one priority is to make sure they are loved and cared for. The best part of my job is seeing the dogs

reunited with their owners at the end of the foster placement. No matter how long they have been fostered with us, the dogs always

remember their owner and are so excited to see them again.

Diane, Freedom Project Coordinator

Greater London & Home Counties

0800 298 9199Scotland

0808 169 4315

Yorkshire

0800 083 4322North West

0300 303 4139North East

0300 303 3497

freedomproject@dogstrust.org.ukwww.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk

If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need support and advice, you can contact the 24hr National Domestic Violence Helpline on freephone

0808 2000 247 or visit

www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (Scotland)

0800 027 1234or visit

www.sdafmh.org.uk