A friend of mine is plucking up courage to leave her husband who has been abusive in various ways since they were married.  Her main worry is her three dogs - she won't be able to take them with her immediately but does want to keep them when she is sorted out.  It will be difficult to find a friend who can look after all three for her and I wondered whether anyone knew of any organisation that could maybe help.  She would much rather they lived in a home as part of a family if possible but doesn't want to re-home them permanently unless that becomes her only option.  If anyone has any experience of this and can offer any advice that would be great - I will pass it on. 
Many thanks

I believe the Dogs Trust offer a fostering scheme for women in just such a situation..

If at all possible... if she can, she should get them into kennels before she does a runner and then find them foster places. It can be done and if she goes on to rent her own place privately, please tell her a lot of landlords WILL accept dogs if she offers a higher deposit or carpet cleaning on leaving the property etc. Its just that lettings agents will state 'no pets' unless a landlord as specifically said they are welcome, sort of a default thing. Friends of mine are renting a house advertised as 'no pets' -landlord was happy for them to have their dog and cat there.

I totally agree with Theemx re landlords and rental..please tell you friend not to be put off if no pets advertised.

I don't know about any organisation but if the dogs trust help with such a situation then great, i hope your friend gets sorted asap and its fabulous to hear that she has the courage to leave...there are many in her situation that sadly cannot find that courage for whatever reason.

Good on her

If you get in touch with a Rescue Centre for the breed, they will know of someone who will foster.
I have done this with GSD

There is also at least one organisation for just this problem - I think it is London based, I cannot recall the name unfortunately...

Lindsay
x

I have a kennels near Retford, 30 mins away from Newark show ground.
If that is any help.

Richard

Thank you for the information - and thank you Richard but my friend is in London.  I will tell her to contact Dogs Trust initially - it sounds like this may be a good option.  She is trying to get everything sorted before she leaves but it is not easy doing this when her emails and texts are checked and she has to remember to delete the history on her computer if she looks at anything 'helpful'.
She is determined though.
Thank you again, any other advice very welcome.

If she hasn't already done so, please advise your friend to contact Womens Aid in her area (http://www.womensaid.org.uk/).  They are experts in the field and they will have encountered this situation before and may have local contacts who can help.

DogsTrust definitely have a scheme to help people in the situation your friend is in. It doesn't operate in all areas but Greater London is one of the areas where they run the scheme called the Freedom Project.

Hopefully the link will work
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/f/freedomproject/default.aspx

The dogs trust scheme will only take a dog that has been neutered - or they will neuter it for you. 

Having been in an exact same situation, it probably wouldnt be ideal to move the dogs before she intends to leave.  That could create all sorts of unpleasant backlash scenarios.  It would definately speak to both Womens Aid and the Womens Refuge, via a public call box, mobile phone or work phone.  They would be able to help plan an escape route and the safest way to do it.  It has to be a bit planned and with the support of other people that can put legal things in place straight away if necessary.   For example I had to get a police escort to go back to my old house to get some school books for my son, because the police were already aware of the situation, they were much quicker to act.

Its been four years now since I escaped with my two children, £50 and a suitcase, plus two dogs.  I am now living (300 miles away) with my own dog (one of the two I took with me sadly passed away) and children in a privately rented property (initially no dogs allowed, but paid a higher deposit and got a vet reference that things like worming/vaccinations were done). Im now working, puppy walking for Guide Dogs, and finally sorting my life out.

It can be done, it just has to be done carefully :D  Good luck to your friend.  Pm me if you want any further details or info about what it was like and how I managed.

We rented for a few months before buying our new place, I was pleasantly surprised at how many landlords would consider 3 dogs. They required a hefty deposit but as we were confident our dogs would not do any damage we were ok with that. Good luck to your friend!

My OH knew nothing of my planned leave prior to leaving. I escaped with 3 dogs, a child and some furniture One of the dogs went back to him after discussion. I'd tried to leave a year previously, only for him to get wind of it and make an appointment at the vets to have all the dogs PTS Needless to say he didn't get away with it, and I am glad I finally got away.

Tell your friend to make sure that her escape route is planned for a time when he won't turn up (that's what happened to me the first time) and wish her good luck from us.

Thank you very much everyone, I will pass all your comments and best wishes on.  I think there are a few people who will be very much 'there' for my friend but it is taking a huge amount of courage for her to even contemplate leaving.
Many thanks

> Its been four years now since I escaped with my two children, £50 and a suitcase, plus two dogs. 

Well done you! 

Takes courage doesn't it?  When I did it after all the agonising, I was surprised at how the relief hit me.

Thankyou - I can honestly say that it was one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do as my confidence and self esteem were battered out of me.  However it was also the best thing Ive ever done. Ive likened it to stepping out of a pitch black room into the blazing sunshine, for a while you cant see anything at all, then it all becomes clear, and you realise that the world is a sunny place where good things happen and you become 'you' again if that makes sense.

I would say that I couldnt have done it without the help of Womens Aid and The Refuge, they got me protection, help find me somewhere to live that would take my dogs and my children, helped me sort out finances and benefits (I wasnt allowed any money) and even provided counselling as I was in a bit of a mess.  The Refuge also included my children and I in all sorts of trips and activities even though we didnt live inside the refuge at the time.  I am forevever in their debt.

To the OP's friend, the hardest bit is stepping out over the threshold, everything else will be easy compared to how they are currently living.

Not sure if this charity only assists those with children but worth asking? Good luck to your friend x

http://www.pawsforkids.org.uk/

 
Good luck to your friend it would be easy for her to walk away, her dogs will always be there for her please
seek out all help. Please keep us posted.