For many families, pets are part of everyday life, a source of comfort, stability and love.
In homes where there is domestic abuse, pets are often used as tools of control. Perpetrators may threaten or harm animals to frighten partners and children into staying.
No one should have to choose between their safety and a beloved pet.
For many people, concern for a pet’s safety is a real and powerful barrier to escape.
Referral Form (2.74 MB)In 1997, we launched a specialist pet fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse in the Northwest.
Today, it remains a vital part of Endeavour, underpinning all of our services.
We provide confidential, temporary foster placements while owners secure safe accommodation. For safety reasons, owners are not able to visit their pets during placement, but we provide regular updates and ongoing communication.
We aim to foster a wide range of domestic pets including:
We provide access to veterinary care where needed and support foster carers with food and equipment expenses. If you are planning to leave an abusive relationship and are worried about your pet, please contact us. We will talk through your options safely and confidentially.
If you want to refer into our pet service, please download and complete our referral form.
We are members of the Links Group, raising awareness about the link between the abuse of people and animals through collaboration, research, training and advocacy.
To find out about pet fostering services outside of the Northwest:
We are always looking for compassionate volunteers across the Northwest who can offer a safe, temporary home to a pet.
By fostering, you are directly helping someone leave abuse safely.
You will receive:
All placements are confidential and carefully managed.
Fostering can last from a few weeks to a few months, depending on circumstances.
If you are interested in becoming a pet foster carer, please download the application pack and return your completed form to:
Endeavour
340 Chorley Old Road
Bolton
BL1 4JU
Or email: petfostering@endeavourproject.org.uk
You can contact Endeavour directly for confidential support and advice.
You do not need to have reported to the police or be ready to leave to speak to us.
We can help you explore your options safely and at your own pace.
Call: 01204 394842
Email: petfostering@endeavourproject.org.uk
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Our pet fostering service covers the Northwest of England.
We provide foster placements for a range of domestic pets and work in partnership with the Dogs Trust Freedom Project for dog foster placements.
If you are outside of the Northwest, there are other specialist pet fostering services across the UK. Information about these services can be found through The Links Group pet fostering page.
Our standard fostering agreement provides temporary foster care for up to six months.
The service is designed to support people and pets during a period of crisis and transition, while safe accommodation and longer-term arrangements are secured.
We always have families waiting to flee abuse and access the service, so placements need to remain temporary wherever possible.
We understand every situation is different and will keep in contact with you throughout the placement to discuss plans, progress and any ongoing support needs.
We understand how important your pet is to you and we will keep in regular contact throughout the fostering placement.
We will provide updates about your pet’s wellbeing and how they are settling into foster care.
We will also ask for details of your support worker or key professional so we can liaise with them, where appropriate, about your housing situation and plans for reunification with your pet.
All communication is managed carefully and confidentially with safety in mind.
Domestic abuse can affect the whole family, including pets.
People who use abuse and control may threaten or harm animals to frighten partners and children. Children can also be deeply affected by seeing abuse towards pets.
If you are worried about your safety, your children, or your animals, please speak to us. We can help you plan safely and explore your options.
Endeavour provides confidential foster placements for pets belonging to people fleeing domestic abuse.
We work with trusted foster carers across the Northwest who can care for pets temporarily while you secure safety and accommodation.
We foster cats, small animals, reptiles and fish, and work in partnership with the Dogs Trust Freedom Project for dogs.
Your safety comes first.
If you must leave quickly, we will work with you to explore safe options for your pets as soon as possible. In some situations, arrangements can still be made after you have left.
If it is safe to do so, try to let us know about pets as early as possible so we can plan with you.
We understand that transport can sometimes be difficult or unsafe.
We will talk through the safest and most practical option with you. Depending on the situation, this may involve support from staff, foster carers or trusted partners.
All arrangements are handled confidentially and with safety in mind.
Your safety and confidentiality are extremely important to us.
Foster placements are confidential, and owners cannot visit pets while they are in foster care. We manage communication and information sharing carefully to reduce risk.
If you have concerns about being tracked or located, please tell us so we can include this within your safety planning.
We understand that not everyone fleeing abuse is able to keep vaccinations or veterinary care up to date.
Please still contact us.
We will discuss your pet’s needs with you and work out the safest and most appropriate support available.
Please still contact us.
We understand that people fleeing domestic abuse may not always have been able to access routine veterinary care or arrange neutering.
A pet being unneutered does not automatically prevent access to our fostering service. However, it may take longer for us to find a suitable foster placement.
If your pet is a cat, we will arrange to have it neutered before it is returned to you. This is a condition of our placement offer.
If you are able to plan ahead for your pet’s move to safety, it can help to keep the following items together in a safe place and out of your partner’s reach:
These familiar items can help your pet feel more settled whilst in foster care.
Please do not put yourself at risk trying to gather belongings. Your safety comes first.
Important:
Cats can become extremely frightened during moves and may try to escape. It is important that cats are transported in a secure pet carrier wherever possible.
Many people worry they will not be able to keep their pets when leaving an abusive relationship. Our fostering service exists to prevent families having to make that decision unnecessarily.
In most cases, fostering provides temporary care until you are safely settled and reunited with your pet.
We understand how important pets are emotionally, especially during times of trauma and change, and we will always try to support safe reunification wherever possible.
Endeavour is not a rehoming service. However, if you decide that adoption is the best option for your pet, we can help put you in touch with appropriate rehoming organisations for advice and support.
There are several ways you can contact us here at Endeavour. You can telephone Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 5.00pm
Tel: 01204 394 842
Email: info@endeavourproject.org.uk
Via Facebook messager service:
www.facebook.com/EndeavourDAV/
