Second Chance Dog Rescue

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Why Adopt?

 

Adoption is a wonderful way to bring a dog into your life.   Whether it’s a puppy, an adult dog or an elderly dog, there is so much they have to offer in return for the stability and love you will bestow on them.  Many rescued dogs will have gone through hardship, pain or loss, some in extreme conditions of depravation. The vast majority will reward you with their love and loyalty. 

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That is not to say that this will be true on day one of their time with you.  In most cases with adult dogs, you will need to be patient and understanding as they adjust to a totally new way of life and learn that they no longer have to be afraid or fend for themselves.  You will guide them through their development offering positive reward and calm reassurance through their early steps towards sharing your home.  The joy to be derived from watching this transformation and knowing that you have bought this about is one of the most rewarding aspects of dog adoption and often leads to a really close bond developing between you and your dog.  

 

Puppies present their own challenges and have their own distinct needs, regardless of whether adopted or acquired from a breeder.  Appropriate training and socialisation are key to developing your pup into a well balanced, sociable and affectionate dog.

  

What is the Process?

 

At Second Chance, we do everything we can to ensure that you are correctly matched with your chosen dog and that you are fully prepared for your new arrival. 

  

1.  Choosing your dog

 

Bringing a dog into your home is a major decision that must never be taken lightly.  You need to understand how it will impact you and other members of your family.  We have a factsheet entitled ‘Deciding to Get a Dog’ which you should read before proceeding any further.  Click here to download it.

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The next step is to choose the type and size of dog that is right for you.  There are detailed descriptions of different breeds available in books and online and our description of the dogs we have available for adoption attempts to provide the characteristics of each dog – e.g. high energy, playful, affectionate, needing someone at home, etc.

 

When you have chosen a dog from our adoption pages, you need to complete an application form.  Our adoption pages and social media pages all contain details of how to obtain an application form.

  

2.  Applying

  

Once you have submitted your application, we will vet your details to make sure that we are satisfied that the dog you have chosen is right for you – and that you are right for your dog!  We may suggest alternatives if we feel there is a mis-match.

  

3.  Home Check

  

Next, we conduct a thorough home check to check that your home is ‘dog-proof’ and to make sure that you have the right environment for your chosen dog.  Usually, one of our volunteers will visit your home to meet you and your family members.  The volunteer will  fill in a questionnaire and take lots of pictures of your house and garden which will be sent to our assessors.

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If we find anything of concern, we can usually suggest remedial actions that you can take.  Very occasionally we do have to decline applications at this stage, although it’s usually by mutual consent after further discussions of the issues.

  

4.  Contract & Preparatory Literature

  

Once your home check is complete, we will send you a contract together with an array of literature (usually by email) which we ask you to read thoroughly.  This is to help you prepare for your dog and covers everything from how to introduce your dog to your home, family and friends, introducing your dog to children and to other pets, feeding recommendations, avoiding over stimulation, etc. The contract is important as it sets out our agreement with you including your commitments, so you should only sign it if you are happy to comply with its terms.  You will need to sign and return the contract to proceed with your adoption.

  

5.  Collecting your Dog

  

We will agree a collection date with you.  Most dogs are collected from our kennels, located near Newport in South Wales with easy access from the M4.   If your dog is in foster care, you will be asked to collect your dog direct from the foster carer.  We can arrange for transport, if required, but you will be asked to cover the cost.

  

6.  Aftercare and Support

  

As one of our adopters, we ask you to join the Family Group and the Aftercare & Support Group on Facebook.  The Family Group is where you can keep in touch with all the other Adopters and Fosterers and learn how they are getting on - you are now part of our extensive family.   As a minimum, all we ask is that you make the occasional post letting us know how you and your dog are getting on.   The Aftercare and Support Group is where you make contact if you need support or advice from one of our behaviourists; other adopters may also be able to offer help from their experience as well.

  

How Much Does Adoption Cost?

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Second Chance Dog Rescue is run entirely by volunteers and is a non-profit organisation.  We rely on donations from our members, sponsorships and the proceeds of fundraising events to finance our operations.  The costs involved in rescuing dogs is increasing constantly and includes accommodation, food, veterinary care, testing and vaccinating for travel, transportation and administration expenses. 

 

We charge an adoption fee for each dog rehomed to help recover part of the cost of rescuing and rehoming your dog.  The amount of the fee charged varies, based on a number of factors, including the country or origin, the age of the dog and whether your dog will need neutering when at the right age, but will generally be in the range of £400 - £800.

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