Vegetarians refused foster care

A couple who were told they could not become foster parents because they are vegetarians have persuaded their county council to think again.

Dolly and Paul Saunders from West Sussex were first told they could not be considered because they would not give a child meat to eat at home.

But the county council has now said its guidelines are being revised and the Saunders' application reconsidered.

Mrs Saunders said she did not understand what the fuss was about.

I really didn't understand that it was as big an issue as they were making it Dolly Saunders

She said: "If we were to have a child living with us and to be cooking veggie food for ourselves and then presenting them with a different plate of food, that's going to make them feel uncomfortable straight away.

"By allowing them to eat meat at school and when they go to friends and if we went out to a restaurant, we don't mind paying for them to have meat.

"I really didn't understand that it was as big an issue as they were making it."

'Inflexible'

The couple, both 43, hoped fostering would provide company for their 10-year-old son Jake.

They filled in a one-page application form and said they did not eat meat, although they would be happy for the child to eat it outside the home.

A spokesman for the council initially said the problem lay not in the couple's vegetarianism but in their refusal to serve meat at home.

A later statement said its guidelines were being revised and the Saunders' application could be reconsidered.