DOG-LOVERS will soon be able to foster rescue dogs in Somerset to help an assistance dog charity.
Service Dogs UK, based in West Sussex, is set to open a new base in Somerton next month. The charity partners rescue dogs with veterans of the armed forces and emergency services with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Before the dogs can be partnered, they are fostered by local volunteers for up to 12 weeks.
Then the veterans and their dogs will embark on a nine-month programme to teach the dogs to become assistance dogs under the guidance of the charity.
Garry Botterill, co-founder and director of Service Dogs UK, said: “It is a challenging but incredible journey and it has been so successful in West Sussex that we are expanding to the South West and setting up our first new base in Somerton.
“We are proud of our community-based approach and we are looking forward to having our dogs training locally as we work to help our veterans build their confidence and social skills locally.
“The ‘life blood’ of our charity is our dog fosters, we would love to hear from anyone who is at home for most of the day who would like to foster one of our dogs.”
Nigel Rousell, an ex-police dog handling instructor, will be managing the new hub as the training team lead for Somerton.
The Somerton team will also be looking for a volunteer dog trainer to help Nigel at the new base. If you are interested in volunteering or fostering, get in touch by emailing getintouch@servicedogsuk.org
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