The RSPCA Coventry and Nuneaton branch are appealing for the paw-fect people to become volunteer fosterers and help them care for rescue cats and dogs.
The branch takes in animals who have been injured, neglected and abused to rehabilitate and rehome them - but they desperately need more fosterers to help them.
Jade Mason, from the RSPCA Coventry and Nuneaton branch, said: “We need both dog and cat fosterers but particularly dogs as there is a real shortage at the moment.
“Fostering an animal can help change their lives. Some pets don’t get on well in a cattery or kennel and need a home environment, sometimes the cat pods or kennels can be full to bursting and we have no space for more animals, and other times a dog or cat may be part of a prosecution case and need looking after for a longer period of time.
“For you, fostering means you get to experience the joys of caring for an animal without the lifetime commitment. There are no vet bills as the branch will cover medical costs and provide food and equipment. It is also very rewarding to give a pet a loving, temporary home where they can come out of their shell and thrive.”
Without fosterers there could be longer waiting times for new animals coming into RSPCA care, as fostering an animal frees up a space at a centre. Fosterers are a vital part of the work the RSPCA continues to do each day.
Simon Clark from Kenilworth near Coventry has been a dog fosterer for the branch for the last six weeks. He is caring for three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Lola who was found roaming around Coventry alone with infected ears which had gone untreated.
Lola has had an operation on her ears to save her hearing so the branch thought being in a foster home would be less stressful for her than being in the kennels.
Simon said: “I’ve shared my home with cats and dogs throughout my life. We had a cat for a long time until four years ago when 19-year-old Elsa died. Now the kids have moved out and I work from home it seemed the perfect timing. I wanted to do a little bit more than socialising and walking dogs which I’ve done as a volunteer previously. We don’t know if we would like to commit to having a dog just yet but if you can help lots of different dogs that are needy then that is a better contribution.
