Kent animal charity pleads for more foster carers amid rise in abandoned pets

An animal charity in Kent has been telling ITV Meridian's Abigail Bracken how social media trends influence rates of pet abandonment.

An animal charity in Kent is pleading for foster carers to come forward after more stray dogs have been looked after by the centre in the last year.

Some of these strays are breeds that have trended on social media, only to be abandoned later by their owners.

Battersea has three centres, one at Brands Hatch, where they're asking for more helpers to open up their homes to a temporary furry friend.

The animal charity says it's seen an increase in dogs like French bulldogs at their centres due to social media Credit: ITV News Meridian

Ahmed Abdeldayem, Centre Manager, Battersea Brands Hatch said: "Having foster carers allows us to care for more animals than we care for here at the centre.

"It obviously means they're in a home environment so they get exposed to the goings and comings and the sounds and all of that to prepare them for, when they go to their home. So it is a lot better for the animal, obviously, and it enables us to help a lot more animals."

Ahmed says staff at the centre have noticed an increase in certain breeds being brought in after they've been trending on sites like TikTok.

Julie Webster has adopted eight dogs in recent years Credit: ITV News Meridian

He said: "French bulldogs, for instance, after seeing flat face breeds on social media. And we do see an increase of them coming in here, you know, after people have adopted them. So it does follow from social media trends."

Julie Webster, who is a dog foster carer, has looked after 8 animals in recent years.

It's a requirement for people who foster animals from Battersea to live less than an hour away. The charity provides training and covers all of the food and vet bills for the duration.

Julie said: "I've always had dogs in my life. But I'm in this situation now where I cannot afford to have a dog, so fostering dogs helps other dogs, it helps me and it doesn't cost me anything. All it cost me is my time and love, which I have plenty to give.

"I do suffer with my mental health and I've found that fostering dogs has improved that no end. With a dog, it's unconditional love, they don't expect anything, they just give you that tenfold."

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