One Foster Home. Two Dogs Helped.
The dog you take in gets what a kennel cannot give. The kennel space you free up goes to the next dog in crisis. We provide everything else.
One Home. Two Results.
Every foster placement does two things at once: it gives a dog the environment it needs to recover, and it frees up a kennel space for the next animal in crisis.
Every dog in our care occupies a kennel space. Every space we free up allows us to take in one more dog from a pound. Fostering is how we stretch our capacity without expanding our walls.
It’s not just the numbers. For some dogs, the kennel environment does not help them decompress. The noise, the disruption and the lack of routine can undo weeks of progress for a dog still learning to trust. A foster home gives them something we genuinely cannot: a front door, a quiet evening and a person to follow from room to room.
Foster
“Fostering is deeply rewarding. You see confidence grow, trust return and personality emerge. Whether it is for a few weeks or a little longer, your home can be the bridge that gets a dog ready for their forever family.”
How it Works
We handle the logistics. You handle the welcome.
When you foster for Wicklow Animal Welfare, we provide all food, veterinary care, bedding, leads, crates and any equipment specific to that dog. You do not pay for anything.
We only ask you to provide a stable home environment and the time to let a dog decompress at its own pace. A willingness to attend vet appointments in Rathdrum when required and to provide aftercare following neutering or any procedure. And communication: if something is not working, we need to know early.
Fostering is not a permanent commitment. Some placements last a few weeks. Others run longer, depending on the dog and the availability of the right home. We match each placement carefully and will always be honest with you about what a specific dog needs before you say yes.
Not every dog on our books needs fostering. The ones that do tend to fall into a few clear categories.
Nervous or anxious dogs that find kennel life overwhelming regardless of the care around them. Dogs recovering from surgery or illness who need a quieter environment and attentive aftercare. Puppies who need the kind of close daily contact and routine that a kennel cannot provide.
These are not necessarily the most challenging dogs to care for. A nervous dog in a calm home often makes faster progress than anyone expects. A dog recovering from an operation mostly needs somewhere quiet and someone consistent.
We will not place a dog with you that is beyond what you can manage, and we will give you a clear and honest picture of what each dog needs before you commit.
The Dogs in Need of Fostering
Foster
Fostering: It starts with one dog. It rarely ends there.
Straightforward to set up. Harder to say goodbye at the end. Most of our fosterers come back for another. A dog arrives, usually a little unsure. You feed them, give them a bed and let them find their feet. Most settle faster than their fosterers expect.
The part nobody warns you about is the goodbye. Some dogs go to their forever home and you feel proud and slightly sad in roughly equal measure. Others do not quite make it out the door. We call this a foster fail. We mean it as the highest compliment.
Wicklow Animal Welfare receives no government funding. Every foster placement stretches our resources further and makes it possible to say yes to one more dog in crisis. If you have a stable home, some patience and a spare lead, we would like to hear from you.
What to ExpectWhat Fostering is Actually Like
Registered Charity in Ireland
Registered Charity in Ireland
Without You, None of This Happens
Wicklow Animal Welfare receives no government funding. Zero
Every rescued animal is funded entirely by donations.There is no single right way to help. Monthly giving, one-off donations, volunteering or simply sharing our posts: every contribution keeps the work going.
We welcome donations via Paypal, Revolut or text the word WAW to 50300 to donate €4*
👇 Click to Donate 👇
Wicklow Animal Welfare is a registered charity No. 20068943*100% of the text cost goes to Wicklow Animal Welfare.
Some providers apply VAT, which means a minimum of €3.26 will go to the charity.
Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions
A one-off donation is always welcome.
A monthly commitment changes how we operate.
When we know what is coming in each month, we can book vet appointments without checking the balance first. We can say yes to the next pound call without hesitation. We can plan a neutering clinic and know it will go ahead.
Even €10 a month makes a measurable difference.
Over a year, that covers parasite treatment, vaccines or emergency care for several animals.
Founder Fiona Gammell started rescuing dogs when she was just 12 years old, using her pocket money to pay for neighbours' dogs to be neutered in a bid to prevent unwanted litters flooding her local area. That early determination never left her.
Over the decades, she worked as a voluntary cruelty inspector, served as vice‑president of Wicklow SPCA, and studied both law and farming to better understand the systems – and the gaps – that leave so many animals at risk. This breadth of experience means WAW doesn't just understand animals; we understand the rural realities, the legislation loopholes, and the cultural and economic pressures that create Ireland's ongoing animal welfare crisis.
We know what it takes to make real, lasting change – and we're in it for the long haul.
Fiona’s Story
Over 50 Years helping animals