Our Special Friends (OSF) was contacted on a Friday in August 2022 by a friend and neighbour of a gentleman, Tony, who had been hospitalised because help was needed to look after Tony’s elderly spaniel, Digger. After an initial foster home had fallen through, the neighbour had been popping in to check on Digger, and a professional paid dog walker was taking Digger out daily – but Tony’s stay in hospital was now going to be longer than first expected so more support was needed. Tony’s next of kin, his nephew, did not live locally so couldn’t help with looking after Digger in situ, and worked full time so was not in a position to have him at their house.
The very same day, OSF identified a potential foster home with a couple who loved spaniels and regularly took on older dogs with health problems through Spaniel Aid. Tony’s nephew was visiting at the weekend, so was able to transport Digger to the foster home, where he settled in quickly. During his stay, Digger began scratching compulsively around his head and neck, and his fosterers took him to his vets where they found evidence of fleas. Digger was also licking at his paws, so OSF requested his previous vet history which showed that he was thought to have arthritis, but that his medication had lapsed. As per our Fostering Agreement, OSF agreed to cover the vet bills for Digger through our Animal Welfare Support Fund, including the arthritis medication, flea and worm tablets, a follow-up consultation, and a flea spray for the foster home.
After briefly being discharged in August and then re-admitted to hospital after a fall, Tony was able to come home in the middle of September, with carers visiting four times a day to support his recovery. Meanwhile, due to personal issues the foster family had said they would need Digger to go home in early October. Fortunately Tony was well enough for his nephew to collect Digger from the fosterers and return him home on 1st October, with his neighbours and the paid dog walker providing continued support. Towards the end of October, Tony called to say how pleased he was with the service he had received, and he made a very generous donation of £200.
Sadly, in mid-December Tony became unwell again, but unfortunately the family who had fostered Digger previously had just taken on another dog through Spaniel Aid so couldn’t have Digger as well. OSF worked quickly to identify another volunteer who was happy to take Digger on – however, before that could happen, one of Tony’s neighbours stepped forward to foster Digger. A key goal for OSF is to increase support within a client’s existing network or community, so this was an ideal solution.
