Our Requirements
New homes must have secure gardens and owners not out at work all day leaving new pet on own. We only home to those who will keep pet as a family pet and not to be used for breeding, security work or to be kept outside. We do not home to flats or properties without a safe garden/patio area to let pets out in.
Home checks and set donation are required.
Crate training, dietary requirements are discussed with all new owners. Puppy & dog socialisation classes are required to be attended. We do have a set re-homing area so do please read the homing info carefully on each pet.
We also take in and rescue cats. Most of the above will also apply to the homing of any of our cats.
To apply to home a pet please read the homing details of the pet concerned carefully.
New Owner’s Responsibilities
The hard work is down to you the new owner and no one else. It may not be as easy as you think to start with and some problems may occur, but they can all be worked through if you give them a chance and ask your rescue for help & advice. Taking on a dog with no previous history or even one that is known to have been abused and neglected is a big responsibility. A lot of people take on a rescue dog because they feel sorry for it and don’t take into consideration the problems that may occur or how they will deal with them. New owners often wonder why rescue dogs may have problems when their other dog is behaving so well, but some rescues may carry some kind of baggage and it may just take some longer to show than others. Remember if you have a pet already or have previously owned a dog, your new pet has its own character and will not behave as your other pet did. Do not let a problem escalate and do not give in at the first sign of a problem. It will do you and your new dog no good. Be patient with them. Many have never had a loving caring home and have to be given time to learn your new rules and adapt.
Costs
Have you thought about the cost of a new dog? All rescues will ask for a donation to cover their costs and to enable them to continue helping others. Most rescues ask for a set donation which can range from £200 – £400. This will be paid at time of adoption and some rescues also sell food, crates, toys, leads etc at competitive prices. This way they can raise extra funds and also make it more cost effective for you. (Please be aware that donations for our dogs will vary depending on where they have come from as, sadly, for the first time in 30 years, we have not been able to do any of our main fundraising, due to Covid etc., so can no longer cover all transport and passport, kennel fees, etc., so adoption fees will vary from £200 for UK dogs, and at present £400 for dogs from Bulgaria. This covers all vaccinations, kennel fees, passports and transport costs. Please remember we are a small non-profit voluntary home-based run rescue and have to cover our costs to help these dogs.)
Check List
- Do you have time and commitment for a dog? It will need walking, playing with and stimulating, grooming and feeding. Dogs will be a part of your life for anything up to 18 years.
- Do all the family members want a dog? (Remember they will be part of its life.)
- Do you have time for all the extra responsibility? A dog can’t look after itself and will rely on you for all it needs. It is like having a child and will rely on you all its life.
- Will you be committed to walking your new pet on a daily basis no matter what the weather?
- Are you willing to attend training classes?
- Do you have time to make it part of your daily routine?
- Is anyone in your house allergic to dogs?
- Do you have other pets and will they cope with a new addition to the family?
- Will dog be left on its own for several hours or long periods whilst you work? Left on its own, it may become bored and destructive or bark.
- Are you prepared for a family pet in the house? Hairs, wet mud and all?
- If you rent, do you have permission to have a dog and can you give proof to rescues if required?
- Is the dog that you are looking for suited to the size of your home and garden and lifestyle?
- Is your garden secure and fencing above 5ft with no access to main roads or other gardens less secure? Please do take ponds and pool access into consideration for the safety of your pet. If your garden is not secure, please do not waste our time by contacting us for a pet.
- If you own other pets, are they all spayed and neutered? Most rescues will not home to owners where pets are not done.
Please check that you are within our homing area (which can be seen on our Facebook page info) and that you and the pet meet each other’s requirements before completing the application form. All pets’ details & homing information can be seen on our Facebook page, Futures For Dogs. If a pet has “reserved” next to it, then it is not available for homing at this time and awaiting a home check.
Expenses
- Do you take holidays? If so, have you decided if pet will go with you or thought about costs of kennels or dog sitters?
- Can you afford the extra weekly food bills?
- Have you thought of cost of vet bills for vaccinations, spaying and neutering, worming, flea treatments and general medical etc?
- Have you thought about cost of insurance not only for health but possible third party insurance as well if you think your dog may cause damage or an accident?
- Have you checked out the cost of local training class and suitability to your dog’s needs? Most rescues do require you attend one when re homing a new pet.
Legal Responsibilities
- To provide shelter, warmth, food and water at all times for your dog. And to clean up after your pet in public places.
- To keep dog on lead at all times unless in area where dogs are permitted free run and ensure it is micro-chipped and wearing a tagged collar at all times.
- To respect the country code and never let your dog loose near livestock or to chase livestock or run loose in crop fields.
- To never let your dog run loose unsupervised or roam the streets/neighbourhood.
- To never leave your dog locked in a car where it may suffocate, suffer heat stroke or be stolen from.
- Never allow it to be a nuisance with constant barking.
- That under The Dogs Act 1871 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 you are the person in charge of the dog and it is fully your responsibility for keeping it under proper control at all times and failure to do so may result in a prosecution to you and the removal of pet by the authorities or by the rescue for breach of contract.
Please contact us if you are interested in adopting.
