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A DAY IN the life of

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Paige Ferrier, Regional Pet Care Support at Wood Green, The Animals Charity, about her job supporting the fosterers who play a vital role in giving pets the chance for a new life

I’ve worked at Wood Green for two years and my job is to support our fosterers, who are the life of the charity.

By taking pets into their homes, not only do they enable us to take more cats, dogs and small pets into our centres but they help those that need extra love and attention and give us a proper understanding of what a pet is like in a home environment, which is essential for finding them a permanent home.

Like many Wood Green staff, I foster myself and currently have a kitten called Buttercup with a prolapsed bum – I used to be a veterinary nurse so I’m OK with medical problems! I have two of my own cats – one ex-feral – so I can’t take many pets. In the future I want to dedicate myself to fostering so I can open my home to whatever animal needs me. A typical day…

…. involves speaking with fosterers. I could be making sure they know their foster pet’s likes and dislikes before they receive them, offering advice on a problem or checking in with them for a general update. I might also book veterinary appointments, arrange for drivers to bring pets on-site for a check-up, look at re-homing requests or speak with my team about what fosterer is best for which pet.

We support Wood Green’s foster network to take care of pets, get them used to being handled and help them with any behavioural problems. For dogs, a common issue is reacting badly to other dogs and it’s our priority to get these into foster homes quickly. Cat behavioural issues are usually caused by environmental changes – like new family members – so we get them into a calm space with an experienced fosterer and usually that solves it. Fosterers also take pets with medical issues and older ones who sadly aren’t adopted as quickly.

Future pets in need

Wood Green is based in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire and rehomes around 3,500 pets annually, as well as providing advice and support to pet owners in need - all thanks to supporters’ generosity. woodgreen.org.uk

The hardest thing… … is not being able to find the right fosterer for a pet. Some dogs really struggle with kennel life and it’s heartbreaking but we must make sure fosterers have the right environment and are comfortable with the animal’s needs because the wrong foster home could make it worse.

People often don’t realise how much of a commitment fostering is, providing regular updates as well as care and training. Ideally, we like at least a year’s commitment but we provide all fosterers with the training and supplies they need. The best thing… …. Is when you see an animal blossom. I’ll never forget a dog we had called Wolfie, whose owners couldn’t keep him when their working hours increased. He was so stressed in kennels that he injured himself trying to get out. I asked a fairly new fosterer to take him on and with a lot of love and care he turned into an amazing dog. He now lives with a lovely new owner who walks him on the beach every day. Thanks to the fosterer he got another chance at life.