Freedom is our free and confidential specialist dog fostering service.
If dog owners plan to find safety from domestic abuse but are unable to take their dog with them, Freedom provides a temporary home for their dog with a loving foster carer until their owners are safe, settled and ready to have them back.
Our confidential service is free to use with all veterinary treatments and dog expenses covered. Our volunteer foster carers are fully supported by the Freedom team, giving dog owners peace of mind that their dog is receiving the best possible care.
A survey carried out by Dogs Trust in 2019 showed:
We don’t want a dog to be another barrier for someone taking that step to safety:
I was in a domestic violence relationship for about 3 years. We actually got Dexter together, but it got to a point where enough was enough and I made the decision to leave. I was placed into a Women's Aid refuge, but Dexter needed someone that could properly care for him which my family just couldn’t do. I honestly have not got a bad word to say about the Freedom, it was brilliant, every staff member I spoke to was really informative and professional.
Sophie, Freedom client and survivor of domestic abuse
*names have been changed to protect the family’s identity.
If you would like to get support for you and your dog or find out more, you can contact your local Freedom team directly and we will talk you through how the service works and answer any questions that you have.
Our amazing foster carers are a key part of our Freedom team and together we have been helping dog owners find freedom from domestic abuse for over 20 years. With your help, we can continue to make this happen.
If you have time and experience of caring for a dog in your own home and want to find out more about the benefits of fostering a dog, we’d love to hear from you.
Our service is only possible thanks to the support and commitment of our amazing volunteer foster carers who love and care for the dogs in their own homes.
If you’d like to make a real difference in the lives of a dog and their family, get in touch with our friendly team today.
I enjoy walking the dogs and the social aspect of meeting other people with dogs when out. I really enjoy watching my foster dogs play. I enjoy making a difference and learning to love different breeds that I didn’t realise I would like. I think about the families I am helping a lot and I just want to help get a dog and a family to safety.
Mary, Freedom foster carer
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or are worried about someone else, there are specialist services who can provide support:
Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Live Fear Free Helpline
Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline
Together, we can help more dog owners to find freedom from domestic abuse
Freedom has enabled countless people to find safety with their beloved dog. So many people stay in difficult situations, because they feel it's the only way they can protect their beloved pet.
With your support, we’ve helped more than 2,000 people flee domestic abuse.
Will you join us in our mission to help even more dog owners experiencing domestic abuse?
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