How to Rescue a Dog
You’ve decided you want to look into rescuing a dog, how exciting! But knowing where to begin is a daunting task. There are so many organisations out there – yet seemingly so few in the UK! It is important to know that adopting a rescue dog is not an over-night endeavor. Rescue organisations, rightly so, will want to check that you and your home are suited to a rescue dog, as organisations want to find dogs their forever home. This can take a bit of time and patience, but it is so worthwhile! And in the meantime you can prepare for your new arrival.
TIP: Before you begin this exciting journey, do your research. Getting a dog of any kind is a big commitment, and sometimes rescue dogs can be more challenging as they come with their own history and occasional trauma. Your dog will also need a period to adjust to their new life. Make sure that you are ready for this commitment and able to give your new dog the life they deserve. You can check out everything you need to know before rescuing a dog here.
Here is a step by step guide to adopting your new rescue dog:
1. The first step in adopting a rescue dog is deciding what type of dog you are looking for. What size? What age? What sex? What temperament? Are there any dealbreakers for you? Making a list of desired traits in a dog will help you narrow down your search.
2. Find a few reliable organisations that you like the sound of (check out this handy list here), either in the UK or abroad, and have a look at the dogs they currently have up for adoption. If there aren’t any dogs that stand out to you, do not worry, rescue organisations often have high turnover and are bringing in new dogs all the time. Just keep checking back regularly until you find a dog that catches your eye. Some rescues also request that you submit a general application about yourself, then they do the matching for you!
3. The next step is to make enquiries. Reach out to rescue organisations about any dogs you may be interested in, and ask any questions you may have. You can ask questions about temperament, what rescue back up packages are on offer, or anything else. Check out these 5 questions to ask about a potential rescue dog here.
4. Once you have decided on a dog that you would like to rescue (either through an online profile or visiting a rescue centre), express your interest to the organisation. Depending on the type of organisation, this can either be through a form on the website, or through contacting them directly. You should include a little bit about yourself and your situation, to demonstrate to the organisation that you could be a good fit for the dog. Note that if you are looking for puppies, these tend to go more quickly so don’t delay in expressing your interest!
5. The next step is that the rescue organisation will get in touch to learn more about you. They will ask you about your situation, your experience with dogs, if someone will be home with the dog during the day, the size of your house/flat, if you have access to a garden, if you have any young kids or other pets, etc. Some rescues will want to do a home visit to ensure that you are able to give the dog a great home, others will request a video visit, and others just a photo. Again, smaller organisations abroad will be more flexible about whether you meet the all the criteria as they have fewer applicants.
6. The rescue will then consider your application and decide if you are the right fit for the dog you have applied for. They know the dog best so don’t be discouraged if you are not successful the first time around! If you have not been successful, you can reach out to the organisation to ask why, and to see if they will let you know about any suitable dogs in the future. If you are successful, congratulations! That is so exciting, you have just saved a life.
7. The next step is to pay any fees or deposits the rescue might require. This is perfectly normal at this stage – rescues want to know that you are serious and won’t back out at the last minute. Each rescue has a different schedule, but paying a deposit, fees for care and vaccines to date, a rescue fee, and if applicable, travel fees, are all standard. Regardless, this is all cheaper than buying a dog!
8. Depending on your new dog’s situation and location, the timeline between choosing your dog and your dog coming home can vary. Some rescues (located in the UK) will take far less time – a matter of days after all the checks have been done, if your dog is healthy, vaccinated and ready to go – while other rescues abroad will take longer as they need to get a passport for your dog and arrange travel. A few months is a standard wait time for this, and gives you plenty of time to prepare. The bottom line about timing is that no one wants to see you unprepared, so most rescues will work around your timing to make the transition as smooth as possible.
9. Get prepared! Preparing for your new arrival is so exciting and sometimes very daunting. Especially if you haven’t yet met your new arrival and don’t know what to expect! But stay calm, everything will work out. Check out our bringing home a new dog checklist and our handy training guide to get a sense of what is to come.
10. The final step in the adoption process is for your new dog to come home. Many rescue organisations deliver, especially if they are coming from abroad, but if you are local to your new dog you might be expected to go and pick them up yourself. Either way, it is a very exciting time for you and your new dog, and you can check out how to help your rescue dog settle into their new home here.
Not ready to commit to adopting? Why don’t you try fostering instead.