A DOG rescue charity is appealing for volunteers to offer a foster home to an animal in need to help it continue its work.

Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue urgently needs people who are willing to care for a rescue dog until they find a permanent home.

The charity does not have kennels so relies on volunteer foster parents to open up their homes instead.

It is currently experiencing a high demand for their services.

Sue Tozer, who lives in Gomersal, was involved in setting up the organisation about a decade ago with a small group of dog walkers that regularly exercised their pets at Oakwell Country Park in Birstall.

Mrs Tozer told the Telegraph & Argus: “There was a stray dog running around and the dog warden said it would be given seven days or be euthanised.

“So we saved up and rescued that dog.

“That was the start of it, but over the years it has really snowballed.

“It’s rewarding because at the end of the day we can take in a dog, heal it and help it go on to a new life.”

She explained how they saw an influx of dogs before Christmas and are in need of both new volunteer fosterers and new owners to adopt the animals - a common time for dogs to be abandoned by their owners.

“People think it is after Christmas, but I always say, when the tree comes out of the loft, the dog gets kicked out of the house to make room for it,” added Mrs Tozer.

The charity relies on donations, either by people adopting one of their dogs, or through fundraising, such as the annual dog show at Oakwell.

Dogs come to the charity for a variety of reasons - they could be abandoned, a change in family circumstances, or the death of an owner, for example.

One volunteer fosterer is Crescenza Puzio, of Thornbury in Bradford. She is caring for Reggie, a Greyhound-Staffie cross.

“I’ve been fostering for the charity for seven years now. Our fosterers take in dogs for as long is needed. My shortest was a week and my longest was 14 months.

“People think we are this massive charity, but we are a small group of people that trying to do their best for the animals that come to us.”

To find out more about fostering with the charity visit yrdr.co.uk or email enquire@yorkshirerosedogrescue.co.uk.