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Dog fosterer’s volunteering sparks artistic passion
“I don’t know how many [dogs] I have now painted. Dozens anyway. I’ve gifted many of them to the new owners as a good luck present.” - Jo Heather
Jo Heather has fostered nearly 100 dogs.

An accomplished dog fosterer has rediscovered her passion for painting, as she nears a milestone 100 dogs fostered for Dogs Trust.

Jo Heather, a mother-of-two from Salisbury, began fostering for Dogs Trust in 2017, inspired by her daughters’ love of dogs. However spending time with the fostered dogs also reignited another love of Ms Heather’s, as she rediscovered her love of painting.

As a fosterer for Dogs Trust’s Home from Home foster scheme, Ms Heather volunteers to provide a temporary home for dogs while Dogs Trust searches for a permanent home. This can mean caring for a dog for a few days, or even several weeks.

Ms Heather soon found that, during quiet times when the dogs were asleep, she was inspired to sketch and paint them.

Ms Heather said: “I started thinking: I’ve got a little bit of time here – the dogs are happily sleeping so I can sketch them and paint away and that’s how it happened really.
 
“I don’t know how many [dogs] I have now painted. Dozens anyway. I’ve gifted many of them to the new owners as a good luck present.”

The Home from Home scheme is funded by Dogs Trust, with support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. So far, players have contributed over £20.6 million for Dogs Trust.

The charity also runs another foster scheme, Freedom, which fosters the pets of owners which are fleeing domestic abuse. As some refuges do not allow dogs, fosterers care for them until their owner is able to be reunited with their pets.

Dogs Trust says that the need for pet fosterers has never been greater, as they report over 45,000 handover calls received in 2023.

Abbi Moon, head of rehoming central operations at Dogs Trust, said: “This year, foster carers have been more important than ever before. We had over 45,000 handover calls last year because dog owners are facing so many struggles, including the cost of living.
 
“We have 21 rehoming centres, but our kennel space is stretched, and we don’t see that easing any time soon.
 
“Thanks to volunteers like Jo, and the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we can have kennels ready for the next dog who has nowhere else to go. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Image © Dogs Trust

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.