An insight into what it’s like to be a Foster Volunteer at Mayhew, from Stuart: 

My daughter and I started fostering for Mayhew back in 2015, nearly ten years ago. Since then we’ve fostered over 30 dogs. Some of the tiniest have been chihuahuas or miniature yorkies at less than 3kg. The largest have been giant breeds well over 40kg. Some stay for only a day or two, others for weeks or months. Belle (who is currently snoring on the other sofa) has made herself at home for over two years.

At the time we started fostering I felt that too many people get a dog on impulse without really thinking about the future. Taking on the responsibility of giving a home to a dog means possibly planning for the next 10 to 20 years.

I didn’t feel our home setup was necessarily stable enough to offer a forever home for a dog long term. But fostering meant we would be able to care for dogs while they either were waiting for the right forever home or whilst temporarily on Pet Refuge. (Pet Refuge provides temporary care and shelter for the pets of people facing a crisis, whether that be an ongoing issue or an unexpected emergency – Pet Refuge – Mayhew).

Each dog we foster is different and each dog has different needs. Some are very, very withdrawn/nervous, needing time and patience from us to learn to trust. We know not to ask too much of them. Others explode into our life, charging around, bouncing off the walls and sticking their nose into everything if we are not careful.

When a dog gets its forever home and leaves us, it is bitter sweet. It can feel very empty and quiet when we get home. You get used to the clickety clack sound of claws following you around, a slobbery face parked on your knee while you try and work. Or snoring from the other sofa…

Fostering Belle

Belle was abandoned, tied to a shop front, petrified, on a sweltering hot day in June 2022. When she arrived at Mayhew she was understandably traumatised and very anxious. When behaviourally assessed she showed that she had a very short fuse and really did not like being handled, especially by strangers. She was also reactive to other dogs, warning them off very assertively. Once settled, the Mayhew started Belle on a training program to try and calm her anxieties.

In that October, the Mayhew asked us if we would be prepared to take Belle home and work with her, continuing the training and helping her to find her confidence. We were given two dense A4 sides of training notes to follow. The main emphasis was on not over stimulating Belle and giving her space and allowing her to come for very short, calm spells of attention while slowly building up the amount of contact and interaction.

Belle is actually very soppy and really wants to be friendly and cared for. That evening she fell asleep with her head on my lap.

But it did take months for her to really let go of her innate mistrust. She had seemed to learn that the only way to get people to leave her alone was to head snap (but not quite biting) or to yelp as if in pain. Any other escalating body language almost seemed to have been unintentionally trained out of her. It also does not help that she has gone deaf so she cannot hear any approach from behind. While she trusts us now, she is still on her guard with most strangers and will reprimand any that approach her directly too confidently.

As Belle is deaf, she has no recall and does not hear any vocal commands. But she is very bright and has learnt sign language for Stop, Wait, Sit, Go, Turn (left or right) and Paw, (left and right). You do have to have her attention though, in order for her to see the hand signals.

Belle is one of the most obedient and well behaved dogs we fostered over the last 10 years. She is never destructive. She has always been 100% clean and never, ever toileted in the house. When we’re out and about she gets complimented on how good and sweet she is. When people meet her and hear she has been available for adoption for over two years they don’t understand. Why has such a sweet, well behaved, beautiful dog not yet found her forever home?

If this story has inspired you to volunteer with us, we’d love to have you! Please visit https://themayhew.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/ to find out more.