How to Adopt an Animal

Rehoming Procedures:

We’ve made a few changes to our adoption procedures.Β 

Our current re-homing procedure is outlined below.Β  This process is new and may differ from how we’ve done things historically.Β  Further detail on each animal adoption process is in the sections below.

  • Please visit our website and Facebook pages to see the animals available for re-homing.
  • Please read thoroughly your chosen animals information on their individual web profile. Please take careful note of any special requirements the animal may have.
  • Contact the rescue by phone or by email if you are asked to.
  • If you are interested in a dog, please complete and return our Dog Adoption Application Form HEREΒ 
  • If you are interested in a cat, please complete and return the Cat application form here
  • If you are interested in adopting a kitten from our Wales Rescue, please complete and return the Kitten Adoption form here
  • If you are interested in adopting a kitten from our Liverpool Rescue, please complete and return the Kitten Adoption Form here
  • Staff will respond to you as soon as possible, but please be patient. They will talk to you about your household and current situation. If you are a match for the animal we will arrange an appointment for you to visit the animal at the rescue.
  • Only once all parties are completely happy can the adoption process proceed.
  • We will need to carry out a home check this may be in person at your home, or by video. Staff may ask for photos of specific areas associated with the animal’s needs.
  • Staff will advise you of their follow-up procedure.
How to Adopt a Cat

In the first instance please take a look at the profiles of the cats available on our website. We try very hard to keep our web pages up to date so this is always a good starting point if your first visit with us is this way. Read thoroughly your chosen animals information on his/her individual web page taking careful note of any special requirements that he/she may have. Once you have done this, if you feel you can offer a secure home, give us a call at the shelter where your chosen cat resides to enquire whether he/she is still available.

Don’t be put off if your chosen cat is no longer available, we recommend you come along to the shelter anyway as this is the place where you find out if a cat is really the right one for you.Β  Cats and people tend to choose one another, and many a preconception has been thrown out the door once a cat and their human first meet.

When you come along to the shelter we will have the opportunity to discuss in detail your pet owning history, the type of animal that you might be interested in, your current circumstances and whether indeed your preferred animal is right for you. We ask that all of the family come along where possible as an important part of suitability assessment is studying the dynamics of the family and how or if the selected animal will fit in.

If all goes well and human/s and animal/s seem like a good match then we will put a reserve on the animal and this is the point at which a home check generally takes place. The point of the home check is simply to ensure that the environment is a safe one. Among things we will check is how busy the area is, proximity to main roads, whether there is a cat flap and if not then what suitable shelter is available should you need to go out before your cat comes home.

If any concerns are raised during the home check you will be given the opportunity to make the necessary changes to put things right. Once everyone is happy and the check has passed we will make an appointment for you to come down to the shelter where the re-homing paperwork will be completed (we will provide you with any medical information, microchip details etc, as required) and you will then be able to take your new companion home.

Should you have any questions or concerns post re-homing please do give us a call… we are always here to offer advice and help.

 

Please note

As a general rule kitten re-homing is very much case by case based upon the age, size and personality of the kitten (the same being true of the children in the family).Β Our priority is securing the best outcome for all so please do not be offended if we believe a particular match is not quite right for you.

If you live in rented accommodation, we will require sight of evidence of permission from your landlord for you to keep a pet at the property.

How to Adopt a Farm Animal

The rehoming procedure for the farm is not dissimilar to that of Freshfields domestic animals.

First of all and generally before any visit is paid to our site, we will talk to you to discuss the needs of the individual animal you are interested in, and what it is that has motivated you to want to adopt such an animal.

We will need you to reassure us that the animal/s you adopt will be treated as a much loved, albeit outdoor, member of the family and that under no circumstance will the animal/s ever enter the food chain. This is because we sometimes have people coming to us to take farm animals to be used for meat – as an animal β€˜rescue’ charity this is something that is understandably unacceptable to us.

When we are sure that you are able to offer a permanent, safe, secure and loving home to the animal, a home check will be arranged and carried out. This is mainly to ensure the living area for the animal is suitable, and that everything necessary has been provided. It’s important to get these things right at the beginning because that way there is less likelihood of things not working out further down the track.

Once we (and you) are happy we will agree a time for the animal to be collected from us (in some cases we may bring the animal to you). Adoption paperwork will be completed and a pre agreed adoption fee charged.

We will always be available to offer help and advice, before, during, and after the adoption. Again as with the domestic animals, Freshfields animals should not be passed on to third parties, if you are no longer able to care for the animal you have adopted, you must get in touch.

Please note: there is also a raft of government legislation that comes along with keeping sheep, goats and pigs. To find out more about it and ensure that you comply take a look at the following website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-keepers-of-sheep-goats-and-pigs

 

How to Adopt a Dog

In the first instance please read thoroughly your chosen animals information on his/her individual web page. Please take careful note of any special requirements the animal may have. Once you have done this, if you feel you can offer a secure, happy and permanent home please download, complete and return our dog adoption application form HERE

Once we have this information we will be able to tell whether the dog you have selected is likely to be a good match or whether we have any other dogs available that would better suit your situation. We have to consider the dogs needs at all times – there is no point rehoming a puppy to a couple who are out at work all day!

If you and a particular dog are well-suited we will introduce you to the dog at the centre.Β  We will make an appointment for you to visit. Depending on the dog we may need you to make more than one visit.

We advise that you spend some time with the dog, either at the rescue or on a walk. You will be asked to leave some kind of security with us before you go for a walk off site.

We always ask that all of the household meet the dog, along with any other dogs you have. Once all of this has happened, we are satisfied that all potential concerns have been discussed and everyone is comfortable and happy with each other we will complete a β€˜home check’ form and the dog will be temporarily reserved to you. We will then arrange for an experienced home checker to visit you and your family at a convenient time for you.

The home check is a relaxed, short visit, which is carried out before we rehome every dog. If there are any problems – such as a broken fence panel – we will raise this with you and give you the opportunity to resolve the issue. Once resolved we will arrange a time with you to carry out the official adoption at the rescue centre. Our adoption form will be completed, the legal aspects of it will be explained, you will be provided with our canine advice sheet and any questions you may have will be answered.

We will also inform you of any pre booked vet appointments, and make written notes regarding any special dietary requirements, or behavioural issues.

Once this paperwork is complete your re-homing fee will be taken you will be given the opportunity to purchase a dog harness if you require. Your dog vaccination card will be posted out to you in a couple of weeks (once we are confident that our judgement was sound and that this dog has found it’s forever home, their microchip will be registered to you around the same time). Freshfields will remain on the microchip as a second point of contact.Β  At any time after re-homing should you need advice or help we are always available, please do contact us.

Please note:

Our insurance does not allow us to re-home dogs to families with children aged 5 or under.Β Β  In addition to this, we feel it would be irresponsible of us to do so.Β  Β Many of our dogs come from unknown backgrounds and we do not have a full history for them.Β  Young children, even those with experience with dogs, cannot be relied upon to remember 100% of the time the correct behaviour with a dog.Β  Therefore it is a risk rehoming any dog into an environment with young children.Β  Β 

If you live in rented accommodation, we will require sight of evidence of permission from your landlord for you to keep a pet at the property.

 

How to Adopt a Small Animal

In the first instance please take a look at the small animals advertised on our website. Please take careful note of any special requirements certain animals may have. Once you have done this, if you feel you can offer a secure, happy and permanent home please give us a call at the shelter where your chosen animal resides. Depending upon the animal and your individual circumstances, we may ask you a number of questions to pre-qualify you as a potentially suitable home.Β  We will also ask about your current set up to house the animal and may ask for photos to be sent to us.Β 

The most likely outcome is that we will ask you to pop along to the centre.Β When you come along to the shelter we will have the opportunity to discuss in detail your pet owning history, the type of animal that you might be interested in, your current circumstances and whether indeed your preferred type of animal is right for you.

Different small animals have different needs, but space and the freedom to exercise at will is incredibly important. All of our rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets have minimum requirements in terms of their housing and 99.9% require a companion of their own species if they are to live happily. We will be able to advise when you visit the centre regarding the type of set up that will be required and the needs of individual animals.

Once everyone is happy we will organise a home check to ensure the environment, indoor or outdoor, is a safe one for the animals in question. During this period the animal/s will be reserved to you.

Assuming everything goes well with the home check we will then arrange an appointment for you to come back to the rescue centre to carry out the official re-homing paperwork. At this point we will give you all the information you require regarding vaccinations, the microchipping details, neutering (if applicable).

We will request the re-homing fee (for rabbits we will issue you with temporary insurance cover) and you will then be able to take your new family member/s home.

 

Please note:

If you live in rented accommodation, we will require sight of evidence of permission from your landlord for you to keep a pet at the property.

 

How to Adopt a Horse or Pony

First of all, please telephone us on 01286 880808, good homes can make a world of difference to our rescued horses and ponies and also free up resources to enable us to help other equines in need. Please do get in touch!

Our website has limited information about our horses and ponies therefore speaking to the people who know them best is really the only way to go. When you make contact we will invite you along to our Caernarfon shelter, so that we can discuss the options in greater detail and you can take a look at the animals we have available to go out on loan. Whether you are looking to take on a bonded pair/group of equines or are looking for a companion to an existing horse/pony you may have, we are going to require further information from you such as the type of home you have to offer, what previous experience you have with horses/ponies, what your long term commitments are and how these will fit in with your offer of a home.

Our horses/ponies always go out with a β€˜loan’ agreement rather than being adopted so we will need to explain to you how this works along with the legalities of the paperwork you will be required to sign. If a horse/pony suitable for you is identified we will arrange to visit your premises and carry out a home check, this is to make sure that all the correct fencing, shelter, bedding and feeds are in place before the horse/pony arrives with you.

Once everything is in place and both parties are happy, arrangements can be made to transfer the animal/s to your property and the loan agreement will come into force. We do charge an β€˜on loan’ arrangement fee the cost of which varies from animal to animal but will be agreed with you in advance.

Please remember… we are always available if you have any concerns or require advice.

 

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