A North East charity have homed a large number of dogs every year in an effort to help their owners flee domestic abuse.

Dogs Trust’s special fostering service, The Freedom Project, has been running in the North East for five years.

The project aims to help people fleeing domestic abuse by providing temporary accommodation for their dogs.

In that time, figures show that the charity has helped an average of 30 dogs a year whose owners need to flee domestic abuse, with referrals in the last year increasing by a fifth.

Since launching the project in the region five-years ago, the team have found foster homes for 160 dogs whilst their owners flee to safety.

The charity warns that pets are often abused and, in some cases, killed by the perpetrator of domestic abuse in order to control and coerce.

The project works alongside three other specialist pet fostering services such as: Cat Protection Paws Project, Endeavour and Refuge4Pets, proving foster homes for pets.

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Sarah Petrov, Freedom Project regional manager, said that unfortunately, they were “seeing an increased demand in our services.”

She added: “It’s more important than ever that we are there to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse who needs to flee to safety with their pet. 

The Northern Echo: Picture: OLIVIA HEMINGWAYPicture: OLIVIA HEMINGWAY (Image: Picture: OLIVIA HEMINGWAY)

“We see first-hand the ways that perpetrators use dogs to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten within abusive relationships. This is incredibly frightening for survivors and is often aimed to leave people isolated.  

“We have heard of perpetrators not letting survivors walk their dogs alone, stopping them from accessing vet care for their dogs or being able to spend money on dog food and even repeatedly threatening to harm, kill or ‘get rid’ of their dogs.  

“To instil fear and entrap, perpetrators prey on the strong bonds people have with their beloved pets - making these animals vulnerable to abuse because of the psychological and emotional damage that this causes.

Ms Petrov added: “Whilst we are pleased to have been able to help so many people, there is still very much a need for our service, and we urgently need more foster carers across the UK so that we can continue this life-saving work.”  

Carlie, a victim and survivor of domestic abuse, was supported by Dogs Trust’s Freedom Project.

She said she was forced to leave her home with her children as she was experiencing domestic abuse.

She added: “I was offered temporary accommodation from the council, but they wouldn’t accept my dogs who we consider part of our family.

“The thought of giving them up was absolutely heart-breaking as the dogs had been the only constant in the children’s lives during such unsettled times at home; the dogs had always helped and supported them and this was another reason we felt trapped in an abusive home with no way out.

“He knew how important the safety of the children and dogs was to me and therefore used this as a means of control.  

“I heard about the Freedom Project from my support worker and within a few days we were making arrangements for them to go into foster - the relief was amazing.   

“We are now all reunited, happy and safe in our new home thanks to the Freedom Project. We couldn’t have done it without them.” 

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