A dog which can been fostered through the Dogs Trust charity (Image: Northumbria PCC)

An urgent appeal is being made for more pet fosterers to help care for the dogs of people fleeing domestic abuse in the North East. Demand for the Dog Trust's specialist domestic abuse service has doubled over the last five years, according to new data.

The Freedom service offers temporary care for dogs , in the hopes that this will give owners who are victims of domestic abuse the ability to leave without the heartache or risk of leaving their pet. It was established due to growing evidence of the link between domestic and animal abuse, with fosterers playing a critical role in preventing this.

The charity is looking for more people to volunteer, with the scheme backed by Northumbria Police and

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