Really need advice on finding emergency care for dog owner may be admitted to hospital today

[Thingstodotoday]

Hi my friend is having a psychiatric assessment at 4 today and may be admitted to stay. She has asked me to look into temporary care for her dog (4 year old Weimeraner). She mentioned something about temporary RSPCA care? I work all day and live in a block where pets are not allowed so am unable to help out. There is no one else that she can ask. She is central London based.
Any advice would be gratefully received. I'm having the day from hell at work as well so unfortunately don't have much time at the moment to research and ring around but if someone could point me in the right direction that would be great

Lovely, well done Midlife, thank you for updating. Will you get another dog now?

God, what a beautiful dog! And what a beautiful person you are, midlife.
That was a fabulous thing to do.

What a heartwarming thread. I have goosebumps!

The RSPCA will sometimes foster if its this kind of emergency, if someone can get the dog to them. Your friend may feel uncomfortable about that, so another option is to talk to the hospital social worker - they can sometimes arrange for kennels.

A local boarding kennels looks after dogs for hospital patients and they dont expect to be paid. If your friend has pet health insurance it might cover kennels.

You could also try an appeal on local radio. There may some angels who would foster.

And this post should be a wake up call to all of us - make arrangements before the emergency!
Best wishes to you and your friend.

Thanks for the kind words folks. The day after my old Springer was put down I busied myself looking at puppy adverts all day long before chancing upon this thread. With hindsight, fostering a dog to get over losing our own was the most amazing and fulfilling stop gap. I couldn't pull a poo bag out of my pocket without breaking down in tears initially so having another canine companion is such a comfort - and above all it's a great excuse to get outside and enjoy being in the park again.

I'm sure we'll get another dog in good time, but I'm kind of erring towards fostering near term - it gives you such a warm glow knowing that you're helping someone/something. I must get all my paperwork sorted out for the Cinnamon Trust so I can get involved with them. I guess in the back of my mind is also the fact that we'd like to have an "open all hours" sign outside the house for Willow in case her owner needs a bit of time out again.

I bet there will be loads of discarded puppies come mid January looking for a foster home. I sense that all the rescue centres are already full to capacity at the moment.

Meanwhile the DH just wants a labrador puppy... but when did I ever listen to him?!!

Thank goodness there are people like you around Midlife.

Lovely to know that Willow is home for Christmas.

There are lots of springer rescues who are always looking for fosterers.

They always need new ones as they have so many failed ones.

Let me know if you want any links.