Pete Wicks show inspires woman to foster dogs
BBCA dog foster carer said she was inspired to volunteer after seeing her local rehoming centre on TV.
Morgan Ackland was asked to give cockapoo Teddy a place to stay when she approached the Dogs Trust in Basildon, Essex.
The centre has seen its footfall boom after featuring in the four-episode show fronted by The Only Way is Essex personality Pete Wicks.
Ms Ackland said of Teddy: "The hardest part about it is thinking about giving him back."
The trust received the most applications it ever had in a month in January - increasing by 36% on December 2024.
Foster carers give up to six months' worth of respite to pooches who might not be coping well with kennel life.
Ms Ackland found out about the Basildon trust, which has run for 11 years, after watching it take centre stage on TV.
Her voluntary role meant she could care for multiple dogs across six months.
"When I saw [the show] it just made me think 'I can do this - it's not going to take up too much time or take over my life'," she said.
The volunteer was soon asked to care for three-year-old Teddy, who had been handed over from his owner who could not give him the time he needed.
Ms Ackland continued: "I absolutely adore him, how could you not? He's like my little best mate.
"I completely understand why some people do decide to give up their dogs, especially if they feel they can't give their dog the love, attention and care they deserve.
"But I'm just obsessed with him, he's been incredible, so well-behaved and I love him."
Inquiries about volunteering have soared by 50% at the Basildon centre since the "dog-umentary" aired.
Last year it rehomed 500 dogs, with about 70 in its care as of January.
Lisa Cooper, manager at the trust, said: "Everyone wants to know about Pete.
"We've had staff stopped in Sainsbury's and told 'I've seen you on telly'.
"It's really shone a light on what we do here, which I think has been a bit of a surprise to people."
Wicks told the BBC he was "over the moon" to hear about the show's impact.
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