New research from Guide Dogs reveals nearly half of British non-dog owners would like to own a dog, but only 4% could commit to full-time care due to work commitments. Amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, two-fifths of Brits have been unable to welcome a new pet dog into their home.
The research comes as Guide Dogs has launched an appeal during National Volunteer’s Week, for people to foster guide dogs in training. The charity covers all the dog’s expenses, including training, food and vet costs, with volunteers giving love and care during evenings and weekends.
The cost of veterinary care, the price of dog care and working in an office full-time, are the main reasons Brits don’t have a dog. Owning a dog is estimated to cost £1,875 a year, not including the average cost (£450) of two weeks in boarding kennels for dog care during holidays.
Prisca Mascarenhas, an experienced fosterer, has been actively fostering guide dogs in training for the past five years, providing care for six dogs during that time. Prisca said: "My husband and I decided to become fosterers because it offers us the best of both worlds. We have the privilege of caring for these incredible dogs during evenings and weekends, which fits perfectly around our work and family life. The best part is, there are no financial expenses involved, and we are constantly learning and working in partnership with the trainers. As someone who had never owned a dog before, this role has given us confidence and companionship, and we love being able to help a visually impaired person with their independence and their freedom.”
Tracey Berridge, Head of Volunteering at Guide Dogs, said: “Our fostering programme offers all the joys of dog ownership but with a schedule that fits around your existing commitments. Becoming a fosterer is a wonderful opportunity for people who love dogs and want to make a difference to the lives of people with sight loss. By opening their homes and hearts to our dogs, Fosterers play a crucial role in our mission to train more guide dogs. We have lots more dogs entering their formal training and we can only create our life-changing partnerships with the support of our amazing network of volunteers.”
Fosterers are required to ‘do the school run’ for dogs in training by dropping them off and collecting them from their local Guide Dogs training centre, as well as helping dogs keep up with their training at home. The training prepares dogs to become life-changing guide dogs to support people with visual impairments in navigating the world.
To find out more about becoming a Guide Dog fosterer, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/fosterer
