Fostering dogs can ease depression says Andrew

DOG fosterer Andrew Pursell, who has scoliosis (curvature of the spine), wants to encourage other disabled people to consider taking on a canine companion.

Now confined to a wheelchair, the 36-year-old from Newsome says the unconditional love and companionship he gets from his own dog Milo, and those that he’s fostered, has helped him fight depression. “You get a lot of everything from dogs,” he adds, “they give you a reason to go out and about.

“I’ve had my spine rebuilt three times and I’m in a lot of pain. I take a lot of painkillers. I’ve been in some dark places, but having a dog has helped me. He’s such a loving, friendly dog: a brilliant companion.”

Andrew has been a fosterer for the Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue for around three years and worked for other animal charities before that.

He says he’s lost count of the number of animals that have passed through his doors. Milo, a Jack Russell cross, was originally given to him for fostering.

“He’d been neglected, he was filthy and underweight,” says Andrew, “some of the dogs we see have lost all trust in humans because they’ve been mistreated. Even if you just foster a dog you’re getting it out of kennels. Kennels cause a huge amount of stress to a dog.”

A dog lover from childhood, Andrew would like to see other disabled people become fosterers and says that while some breeds of dog require a lot of attention and exercise, others are more than suitable for a disabled or elderly owner.

“I think a lot of disabled people believe they couldn’t manage a dog because of the exercise it would need,” he explained, “but there are some dogs that need very little. I take my dogs out with my mobility chair. Fostering is perfect for a disabled person because it gives them companionship and allows them to have a trial dog ownership. There are also a lot of lonely elderly people who would benefit from having a companion dog.”

Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue covers all food and veterinary expenses for fosterers, who face similar home checks to adopters. “We want to see if the dog is going to fit into their home life and if they’ve got time for it,” says Andrew.

Of course, the main aim of the organisation is to re-home dogs and it looks for owners who have time to spare for their pet and are prepared to meet the expense of caring for an animal.

Andrew says the cost doesn’t need to be prohibitive: “You can insure a dog for £10 or £12 a month for veterinary expenses, and I buy 15 kg bags of dried dog food for around £13 – it lasts two months or so.

“In return there is so much reward – you get it back tenfold.”

Fosterers get ongoing support and advice from the charity. ■■See dogs needing a home at www. examiner.co.uk