This summer, we are delighted to announce a milestone in our support for Battersea. By giving £2 from each Canine Cottages booking to Battersea, we have been able to donate £25,000 between June 2025 and June 2026; this money has funded 454 welcome packs for dogs in foster care. These welcome packs provide the essentials that rescue dogs need to feel settled in their temporary homes while they wait to find their new family.
This seemed like the perfect moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who has booked a holiday through Canine Cottages, and to find out more about the experience of fostering through Battersea. We'll hear all about the time and love that goes into ensuring dogs have the smoothest transition between kennels and their forever home.
If you might be interested in becoming a foster carer with Battersea, head to their website.
Providing dogs with a safe and loving space
Foster dog Ellie. Image credit: Battersea
During a recent visit to Battersea, we met up with Dan Carter, Corporate Partnerships Officer, who gave us the lowdown on Battersea's fostering scheme.
What does fostering a dog with Battersea typically involve?
'Looking after the dog, being their home while they wait for their forever home. Providing their walks, their meals, play and also providing some confidence.
'We find especially for those dogs that are particularly worried, fostering can be a wonderful middle ground, so they can start to get used to a home environment, even the sounds and smells of what home might be like without actually that final step of that forever home.'
Why can home environments be so beneficial for foster dogs’ confidence compared to staying in kennels?
'The kennel environment can generally be quite stressful for a lot of dogs. Some that have come from loving homes don’t know what it is to be in a kennel space like we have here at Battersea. The foster environment can help them get used to what they’ve known – their creature comforts and provide them with a safe and loving space. But also, for those that have never experienced a home before, it’s a great first time for them to experience that. Also, we’re on hand to support our foster carers as well.'
Foster dog Pearl. Image credit: Battersea
What changes do you typically start to see in a foster dog who feels safe and supported?
'Generally, we start to see the cheeky side; their actual personality shines through and some level of independence. If they’re not feeling obliged to follow you around anywhere, sometimes it can be a great sign that they’re feeling settled, loved and confident in the home. If they want to take themselves off to bed in the middle of the day, it’s usually a great sign.'
Can you tell us how the donations like the £2 from each Canine Cottages booking help make a difference to the dogs that you support?
They help us provide a settling-in pack for our foster carers, which covers all the essentials that both the foster carer and the dog need to feel safe, settled and secure in their new environment.
Foster dog Jack. Image caption: Battersea
What goes into a Battersea Welcome Pack and why is it so important?
'We’ll provide our foster carers with everything that the dog has been used to. So we’ll give them a collar and a tag, for security and safety purposes. A double clip lead, a harness, a bed that they know and have been used to, some toys that they know and have been used to, as well as some of their food and treats that we know they like.'
What would you say to Canine Cottages customers whose bookings are helping to support Battersea?
'Thank you, of course. I have seen first hand as a Battersea foster carer the massive impact that fostering a Battersea animal can make. It really helps smooth the transition between kennels and their homes. It’s amazing to see them blossom and become who they are. To see that journey is so, so rewarding.'
Unconditional love and purpose
Fostering with Battersea is an amazing way to share your life with an animal when you might not be in a position to take on a dog permanently. Two foster carers have kindly shared their experiences. First off is Ella, who has been fostering with Battersea for three years and has fostered 14 dogs to date. In this video, she tells her story.
Our next Fosterer is Julie Webster. Julie started fostering dogs through Battersea in March 2025 and has fostered 17 so far. 'Every dog has been different with their individual personalities,' she said. 'It is so fulfilling helping them adjust to a loving and warm environment, where they are safe and cared for.'
While not in a position to own a dog herself, Julie was keen to do what she could to help dogs in need. Being a foster carer has had a very positive impact on her life.
She said: 'Fostering dogs has 100% given me a new lease of life! I'm not ashamed to say that I suffer with my mental health; this has improved so much since becoming a carer. Dogs give you unconditional love and purpose – a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to go out for a lovely walk, get some fresh air, exercise and feel alive again.
'Every dog has touched my heart. When you find out that they have found their well-deserved forever home and family, it makes you feel so happy and on top of the world! I keep a photo album of all my fosters, and it brings me great joy looking through it.'
Proud to support Battersea
If this has inspired you to consider fostering a Battersea dog, then you can find out more on their fostering page. And you can learn all about our partnership with Battersea by clicking the button below.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.