Registered charity no. 1194754
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Adopt a Dog
Thank you so much for your interest in adopting with us! Below, you will find more information about our adoption process and fees.
The adoption process
1. APPLICATION FORM
The first stage in the adoption process is our application form. We ask you to please give as much information as possible when filling out the form so that we can ensure we match you with the right animal.
2. INITIAL CONTACT
When you submit the application form, one of our lovely adoption admins will contact you to guide you through the rest of the adoption process. Please note, our rescue is run by volunteers who will support you around their own jobs and families, so please be patient with us.
3. HOME CHECK
Next, the home check. Home checks aren't as scary as they sound, they simply give us the opportunity to meet you and understand your experiences and needs. At the moment, homechecks are done virtually but we may be able request for a volunteer to meet you in person at your home if preferred.
4. MATCH REVIEW
During a match review, the information from your application form and home check results are considered together with your chosen dogs needs to ensure you are suitably matched. Please remember our shelter dogs have never lived in a home environment and we cannot guarantee their behaviour will be the same within a household.
5. ADOPTION FEE AND TRANSPORT
For our dogs in Romania, once the adoption fee has been paid and the rescuers have confirmed your new dog is ready for travel we will book them on the Happy Bus. Depending on your dog's readiness to travel and how quickly we can fill a Happy Bus, the whole process can take around 4-8 weeks.
Once your dog is ready for transport they will jump on the Happy Bus to the UK. The whole journey can take 3-5 days and in most cases your new friend will arrive right at your doorstep.
How much does it cost?
We want to be 100% transparent with our fees.​
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We charge an adoption fee of £400 for residents of mainland England and Wales, and £420 for residents of Scotland. For dogs that are already in the UK, we take a £175 deposit at the time of reservation. For dogs that are still overseas, we require the full adoption fee as a deposit. Please note that £175 of the fee is non-refundable if you cancel your reservation—this applies whether the dog is already in the UK or has started their journey here.
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Our home check process takes 3+ hours of our volunteers' time to schedule, perform, and review, and we unfortunately see a large number of dropouts after the home check, so we charge a £20 home check deposit to cover us in the event that an adopter does not proceed. If you fail the home check, are unable to meet the conditions, or the dog you originally applied for is no longer available, we will refund this deposit to you. The deposit will be deducted from any adoption fee(s) paid.
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As part of our neuter incentive program, all puppies under 9 months old are subject to an additional £100 fee. The fee is fully refundable upon receipt of vet confirmation that your puppy has been neutered within 6 months of arrival or in accordance with your vet's recommendation.
Thinking about fostering?
We know that not everyone can stretch to the full adoption fee, and our goal is to have as many dogs in loving homes as possible. We offer fostering opportunities for some of our dogs, where there is no adoption fee. For more information about fostering, check out our fostering FAQs. Please note that we charge a £20 home check deposit to cover us in the event that a foster does not proceed. If you successfully foster a dog, fail the home check, are unable to meet the conditions, or the dog you originally applied for is no longer available, we will refund this deposit to you.
