Potential dog owners are discouraged from relocating dogs because of the perceived “too strict” adoption guidelines enforced by animal welfare organizations.
Resettlement centers like the Dogs Trust currently require prospective dog owners to fill out application forms to assess whether or not their lifestyle is suitable for a pet.
TeamDogs Facebook page users argued that the requirements are too strict and discourage potential owners from adopting rescue dogs.
One user, Tina Harris, said, “In many cases, if you live on a flat ground floor with a community garden and people have dogs, they will not think you are suitable, even though you can give the dog a good home, time and attention. “
Another Facebook user, Sue Hibbs, said, “Adoption is too difficult. There are so many rules. One of them is your working hours. “
Relocation centers like the Dogs Trust currently require potential dog owners to fill out application forms to assess whether or not their lifestyle is suitable for a pet.
(Image: Getty)
In response, the Dogs Trust said it welcomes all relocation requests but is looking at adoption on a case-by-case basis, depending on the dog’s individual needs.
There are a few “hard and fast rules”, for example a dog will not live in an only outdoor setting, or an uncastrated dog will be housed in a household with an existing uncastrated dog. It will also not be relocated to a household with a person who has not yet been convicted of animal-related offenses.
The charity announced that it will consider dog lovers with a variety of work patterns if they can demonstrate that the animal’s needs are being met.
Dogs Trust’s relocation policy requires prospective owners not to leave their dog for long periods of time in order to protect the animal’s mental and physical health and insists that dogs have access to a suitable outdoor area to exercise. If the apartment does not have a garden, the dog must be given regular toilet breaks.
Adam Clowes, Operations Director at Dogs Trust, said, “Every dog is different and has specific needs for their forever home; Our job is to make sure they are matched with someone who can give them everything they need to be successful in the long term.
“Welcoming a rescue dog into your life and buying a puppy from a breeder are two different experiences. We have dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds under our care, some of which may not have had the best start in life, so our experts are working hard to behaviorally rehabilitate them to prepare them for home life.
“The demand for dogs was higher than ever during the pandemic, and we have seen a huge increase in the number of people looking for homes from us, and many of our dogs have found homes forever.
“Some of our dog residents receive hundreds of applications from potential new owners, and we are still inundated with requests from the dog-loving public to be adopted by us.
“We pride ourselves on our thorough conduct and veterinary ratings, which help us match each dog to the right person, and our decisions are always influenced by it. For example, some of our dogs may need to be adopted to a home where they are the only pet or to someone who offers a little more time to continue their training.
“The decision to welcome a dog into your life can be emotional and people have often turned their hearts to certain dogs. We understand how disappointing it can be when a certain dog isn’t right for your lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be the perfect dog for you in the future.
“We ask for patience from people looking to house a dog, as the unprecedented demand for dogs may mean you have to wait a little longer to find the right dog for you.”
Whether a garden is necessary or not depends on the dog and the environment it needs, whether it is house-trained and whether the potential owner can and wants to take the dog outdoors regularly beyond the day.
(Image: Getty)
The RSPCA requires potential owners to complete a “Perfect Match” application. Working full-time doesn’t necessarily exclude potential owners. The charity advises not leaving dogs for more than four hours at a time, but says that doesn’t mean you can’t use dog walkers and dog sitters.
Whether a garden is necessary or not depends on the dog and the environment it needs, whether it is house-trained and whether the potential owner can and wants to take the dog outdoors regularly beyond the day.
The charity debunked some other adoption myths here.
An RSPCA spokesperson said, “We always urge anyone looking to buy or adopt to do a thorough research before bringing a pet home to ensure they can care for them for the rest of their lives.
“We would also recommend future owners adopt a rescue animal instead of buying their new pet. While it can be easy to find animals on the internet or even spend hundreds on an expensive breeder, you risk heartache or huge vet bills if you don’t do your homework. Adoption also means feeling good about doing good – giving an animal a second chance at a loving home.
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“Inclusion by the RSPCA means your pet is healthy, neutered, vaccinated and chipped, and we can also provide details of their behavior and veterinary treatment so that you can get a fuller picture of your new pet.
“Many of the animals in our care have had a difficult time, so it is very important that their next home is the right home and a home for life. We don’t have a blanket policy on relocation, however, so each game will be hit on a case-by-case basis.
“Because many of the animals in our care have been victims of cruelty, neglect or suffering, they often need a period of rehabilitation before they can be moved back to a new home. During this time, our staff will examine their temperament and their reactions to other people
Animals and the general environment so we can begin to determine the type of owner each animal needs. We want to house the animals as soon as possible, but we have to consider the needs of each individual animal in order to assign them to the correct owner.
“We ask anyone looking for a new home with us to fill out an application form so that we can receive information about you and your lifestyle and help you choose the right pet. Sometimes it just takes a little time to find the perfect match, but we work very hard to find the animals in our loving homes. “