Community Safety Partnership

Pet Fostering Service Scotland

Pet Fostering Service Scotland has a local service for Ayrshire but currently has only a very small bank of volunteers. That is why they need YOU!

The service is made available to pet owners who have to go into hospital or are going to have respite care or are in a crisis or emergency.

South Ayrshire’s Community Safety Partnership recognises that women trying to flee domestic abuse often cannot do so because there is a pet in the home, who’s safety they often fear for. Women are not able to take the animal with them, as they are not permitted in homeless accommodation or women’s refuges.

These fears are supported by research done by the NSPCA, which has shown clear links between domestic abuse and pet abuse. “75% of women victims (of domestic abuse) interviewed in a ‘Paws for Kids' survey said that their abuser had harmed, or threatened to harm their pet” (SPCA Website)

“My step dad kicked my rabbit and killed it because my mum made him angry. Later he said he would build me a new hutch and get me another rabbit. I don’t want another rabbit but I’m scared to tell him.” (Young person living in South Ayrshire Women’s Aid Refuge)

Due to the small number of volunteers the PFSS has in Ayrshire, they are often unable to house pets from women fleeing domestic abuse, in some cases this has prevented women from attempting to flee.

If you think you could be a fosterer, please view our Frequently Asked Questions for more information!

To register as a volunteer please call: 01292 287017

For more information on pet fostering please access the website on www.pfss.org.uk

Pet Fostering