Respite Dog Fosterer St Albans

Respite Fosterers are responsible for the care of the dog on a short term basis for many reasons. You may look after a do who is sick, or whilst a long term fosterer volunteer is on holiday. You must be over 18 to apply, however having children under 18 will not exclude you from becoming a Fosterer.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide a welcoming and safe environment for a dog for the time required.
• Ensuring the dog is fed and exercised as directed.
• Embedding the same behaviour and commands as your supervisor.
• In the event of an emergency, ensuring the dog receives veterinary care and Guide Dogs is informed immediately.

Ideally you will: 

• Have your own home or written permission to have a dog in the home.
• Have suitable accommodation and a secure outdoor area.
• Enjoy working with dogs.
• Be physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
• Able to follow all training and welfare guidelines provided by Guide Dogs.

If you don’t feel you tick every box but are keen to get involved, please contact us for a chat. We are open to suggestions where possible or may be able to suggest an alternative position.

You’ll Get:

• The satisfaction in knowing you are supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The opportunity to learn and develop your understanding in dog body language, learning theory, the human animal bond and the life of a guide dog.
• Any pre-agreed expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy. Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket.

Training and Support:

At Guide Dogs we recently achieved the Investing in Volunteers certification which means we take volunteering seriously and offer a great level of support and invest in our volunteer’s success. You will have a dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us.

Application Instructions:

• You can apply for this volunteer role directly via the Guide Dogs website.
• The application form should take around 10 minutes.

Once complete, a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your application with you and your suitability for the role.