Services to care for dog while in hospital.

[Tumbleweed101]

I was wondering if anyone knows of services that might be available to help care for a dog while someone is incapable of caring for them or in hospital.

My dad has a slipped disc and sciatica and is in a lot of pain. He can’t sit down or easily get out of bed. He’s in so much pain he may end up in hospital. However he has a German Shepard dog. He lives in London and the rest of the close family live elsewhere and not in easy distance to support him day to day.

We have taken the dog for the moment while we are off work for Xmas but this isn’t a long term solution as my own dogs don’t get on with her so I can’t care for her here and my mum - the house she is staying in - has COPD and can’t manage either the level of fur in the house or her size long term.

So I thought perhaps there were charities or organisations who I might be able to contact and see if there is help. He’d like to keep his dog as she is his companion and he manages fine with her usually but this back issue is very acute right now. Has been quite a stressful Christmas!

www.moretodogstrust.org.uk/other-pet-fostering-services/pet-fostering-for-other-groups-

The Cinnamon Trust. DD volunteers for them and has assessed dogs for people on this very situation, ready for fostering if needed I’m future. I’m not sure how quickly they can mobilise though but worth trying.
cinnamon.org.uk/cinnamon-trust/

I'm not sure about charities, what you'd be looking for is a short term foster? The cinnamon trust might be able to point you in the right direction otherwise you could look at paying someone to do it (professional dog sitters/kennels.)

Look at the Cinnamon Trust.

Try the Cinnamon Trust. I fostered for them when I lived in London. They should be able to help.

Does he have a budget to pay for boarding? If so ask his usual vet for anyone they know of who does home boarding and see if there are any spaces. They'll be full over Christmas/NY but there might be possibilities in Jan.

Otherwise charities like the Cinnamon Trust

cinnamon.org.uk/cinnamon-trust/

cinnamon.org.uk/cinnamon-trust/

Lots if refuses do short term Foster.

We have just had a spaniel stay, due to similar circumstances. We regularly Foster for the rescue. A breed specific refuse might be a good bet and their Foster carers will be familiar with the need of the breed.

Contact his local rescue centres and explain the situation- as PPs say, you need a short-term foster. As it a German Shepherd breed specific rescue would also be good.

Otherwise if it’s a short-term issues (hospitalisation) then kennels/dog-boarders?

Thank you so much for the replies. It’s given me something to discuss with him and starting points of places to speak to.

He doesn’t have a lot of money for private boarding but I’m wondering if his pet insurance may cover anything like that so will look at that too.

A good dog insurance does offer boarding costs for owners hositalisation so worth checking

Depending whereabouts in London you are you could try the West Essex German Shepherd rescue. They might be able to suggest something

The Cinnamon Trust should help.

Some areas also have volunteers who will help in situations like this. I'm a professional dog walker and used to walk a dog for a lady who was chronically unwell (sadly she has now passed away), but when she needed to go into hospital, a local lady fostered her dog for her.

She's now taken the dog on full-time :)

There is more help out there than I expected, which is great. My dad would be lost without her but looking forward I’m not sure how long it will be before he can take her on the length of walks she needs so putting something in place now may also lead to help with that too for a few months. I’d been thinking more about the immediate problem, but I guess it could be a while before he’s able to get about like he was.

My pet insurance will cover 2 -4 weeks boarding if I was in hospital or was unable to look after my dog due to an operation

I just checked my policy I’m with Bought By Many
If he ends up in hospital for more than 4 days my insurance will cover boarding or pet sitting
This is what mine says
Emergency Care -
Emergency Boarding cover will pay for your pet to be boarded in a licensed kennel or cattery if you or a member of your family has to stay in hospital (usually for more than 4 days).

Emergency Pet Minding cover will pay for someone to look after your pet if you or a member of your family has to stay in hospital (usually for more than 4 days).