Blue Cross in Kimpton in urgent call for foster carers for pets

Blue Cross in Kimpton is urgently calling out for volunteer foster carers to help the charity to care for more pets.

The charity, which has a rehoming centre in Kimpton Bottom, is looking for volunteers to provide temporary care for dogs, cats and small animals in their homes.

This year the team have already helped more than 800 pets, and with kitten season in full swing they are seeing many more pregnant cats and kittens needing help, along with other animals and have a waiting list with pets needing to come into their care.

Nationally the charity has seen the number of dogs arriving at its rehoming centres increase by 122% and cats by 80% over the last four years amid a hidden pet welfare crisis, with owners struggling behind closed doors to cover the rising cost of living and being forced to make difficult decisions about their beloved pet.  

Deborah Cotter, 62, fosters cats, dogs and small animals for Blue Cross.

She said: “I'm an informal carer for my mother, who lives 100 miles away, and I don't work due to health reasons. I would love a pet of my own but cannot commit to it with my lifestyle.

“Fostering with Blue Cross gives me the freedom of giving my love and care to pets for whatever reason are with this wonderful charity before they find their well-deserved forever home. Doing this makes me feel good and gives me a chance to have different pets along the way.

Jacqui Lines, 65, who fosters cats for the charity, said: “I have been blessed with adopting a lot of very special rescue cats over the years.

“When my last one died I was looking for a way to help the process of rehoming. Blue Cross have been brilliant and I’m loving the experience and challenges that fostering has brought, whether it’s energetic kittens, sick mums-to-be, or just the really timid cats that need time and space to feel confident again in the human world. Getting feedback from their forever homes is the best reward and helps with the wrench of parting with them.”

Elizabeth Flinn, 58, fosters guinea pigs for the charity. She said: “I foster because I love it. I like to know I’ve made a difference to pets who have (temporarily) no home and the absolutely best bit about fostering guinea pigs is the day they popcorn with happiness! Sometimes this takes a day, sometimes a month, sometimes even longer but eventually they all thank me in their own special way!

“Most memorable foster moments are the day the very nervous Knight finally emerged from hiding; when Furby the hamster sat on my shoulder and purred with happiness; the day King Moonie came into my life, and oh, so many more! Every piggie and hamster has left such happy memories behind!

“I feel supported at all times by the amazing team who are always ready with advice and ideas to make sure the fostering goes as smoothly as possible for pets and humans”.

Aaron Potter, Assistant Manager at Blue Cross Hertfordshire, said: "We urgently need more foster carers to help us to help more animals in the area. Many pets come to us because their owners are facing incredibly difficult situations and have nowhere else to turn. 

“Our volunteer foster carers provide a temporary home and care for our animals until we can find loving forever homes for them.

 "They can help many small animals to grow in confidence and help us to understand the kind of forever home we need to find for them. 

 “We’re seeing more pets needing help, especially pregnant mums and kittens, and without more foster homes, we won’t be able to help every pet who needs us.

“You don’t need lots of experience or the perfect home to foster. We welcome people from all kinds of homes and lifestyles, and we work with each person to match them with pets that suit them.

"We cover all costs, provide training, and our team is here 365 days a year, supporting you every step of the way. 

“We get dogs and cats of every shape and size in need of our help. Most pets only need foster for a few days or weeks before they find adoptive families.”

“Fostering doesn’t just change a pet’s life; it can change yours too. It’s a chance to meet new people, feel part of a supportive local team, learn new skills, and bring companionship into your home.

“If you have some space at home and want to make a difference, you could be the reason a pet gets a second chance. And if you’re not sure whether you’d be suitable, we’d always encourage you to get in touch for a chat.” 

Blue Cross provides training for all new fosterers and covers all costs including supplying all necessary equipment and food. To find out more visit bluecross.org.uk/volunteer