Freedom Project – Over 200 pets helped since project started

Since the project began in mid 2004, we have now helped 242 pets find temporary homes whilst their families fled domestic violence.  We have also successfully reunited 195 pets with their families in their new homes.

Facts and Figures

Greater London

During 2006 we fostered a total of 58 dogs through the project and referred 44 cats to Cats Protection for boarding, helping a total of 93 families to flee domestic violence.  This is a rise on the 2005 figures of 50 dogs and 30 cats. 

Since the project began in 2004 we have fostered 99 dogs through the project and helped 68 cats – a total of 167 pets to date through the Greater London project!

We have a total of 37 registered volunteer foster carers who look after our dogs as part of their family.

Staff took a total of 248 phone enquiries to the project, which included 92 referrals for dogs and 59 referrals for cats during 2006.

We worked directly with 42 referral agencies across Greater London during 2006.

Yorkshire

The project was officially launched in Leeds on Sept 1st , with Vera Baird MP and the West Yorkshire Police attended the event, along with volunteer foster carers and referrals agencies from across Yorkshire.

During 2006 we fostered a total of 67 dogs, helping 57 families to escape domestic violence.
 
Since the project began in August 2005 we have fostered 75 dogs through the project. 

We have a total of 42 registered volunteer foster carers.

During 2006, staff took at total of 222 phone enquiries to the project, resulting in 127 referrals for fostering.

We worked directly with 24 referrals agencies across Yorkshire during 2006.

* Figures above up to end of Dec 06

September 06

Dog Trust launches new help for victims of domestic violence in Yorkshire

Following a successful 12 month pilot of the Freedom Project Yorkshire, we officially launched the project on the 1st September 2006.  The launch was an opportunity to thank everybody involved with the project from volunteer foster carers to referral agencies.
Speakers at the launch included Vera Baird QC MP, Detective Inspector Marianne Huison, Vulnerable Victims Co-ordinator, West Yorkshire Police and Chris Laurence QVRM TD BVSc MRCUS, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director.

Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge, said:

“One woman I met told me that her husband often used the dog as a weapon of control and in a rage threw their beloved dog off the balcony of their high rise flat.   If a man can hit an animal the woman is bound to think “it could be me next”.  With the Freedom Project only a phone call away women and children can now be sure that their pets can also be rescued.  Women, children and their pets all have a right to live in safety.”

Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, the national domestic violence charity, commented:

“We know that many women have to make tough choices when deciding to leave an abuser – and abusers use threats to kill or torture a family pet as a form of control.  The Freedom Project will help many of these vulnerable pets and we commend Dogs Trust for developing this much needed service.”