• Find a dog you think suits you and your home best. Unsure? Please read our Finding the Right Dog (make this a link) section Complete an adoption form. Please give as much detail as possible so we can get to know you and your situation.
• If you are applying for a pup you will need to have information on puppy training classes you will be attending.
• Don't forget if you rent your home you must attach your landlord's consent for you to adopt a dog.
• If you work please give the working hours and rota for each working member of the household. We regret that we cannot accept applications without this information.
• Our rehoming team will contact you as soon as they can via email or telephone. If the dog you have chosen is in foster it may be the foster carer you hear from first. We need to discuss your application further to ensure you are a good match for the dog you have applied for. Please do not be offended if you are not the right match, we can always transfer an application to a different dog that may suit you better.
• Once a dog is reserved for you we will carry out a home visit to ensure a dog will be safe and secure with you and so we can verify who you are. We aim to do this within a couple of days. Please ensure your fencing is as secure as possible and your home and garden are free from hazards to help things along.
• If you pass your home check you will be expected to meet/collect the cat within 3 days. However, if you have school age children and can't travel until the weekend we will allow up to 5 days for the 'meet and greet' to take place. If this goes well and everyone agrees this is the right cat for you, you will be able to take it home with you then. If you are unable to meet this timescale, please inform us immediately.

It is very important to find a dog that will match you and your home. Carefully considering what type of dog to adopt can really help avoid the disappointment of being turned down. Our priority will always be the dog and whilst we don't like turning down an application, we do have to put the needs of the dog first so please do not take it personally if we feel the dog is not the right match for you. it could be that we have other dogs that could be a much better match and if you are happy to be patient and work with us, your new companion could be waiting for you!

To help find the right dog it may help to consider the following situations if they apply to you:

I LIVE IN A FLAT
We have successfully rehomed dogs to flats, apartments, even houseboats and caravans! We do ask that you choose a dog who can happily walk on a lead so that you can take them out to the toilet without them being frightened or anxious of the lead.
Do you live upstairs? Please consider that as your dog gets older you may need to help them up and down those stairs. Would you be able to carry a dog if needed now, or even in ten years time? Perhaps that 50kg Great Dane isn't quite the right choice but we may have many smaller dogs that could be a better match for you!

I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN
If you have small children you will want to choose the right dog and will need to take time to consider a new family member very carefully.
Are your children relaxed and calm around dogs? If not, then they are not ready to have a dog just yet.
Are you prepared to walk the dog in all weathers if you have to take your little ones with you? Not all small children will want to walk in the rain but if you have chosen a higher energy dog and you skip exercising the dog due to bad weather then your dog may become bored and frustrated and show unwanted or negative behaviour.
Are your children very young? Consider choosing a dog that is more confident... a scared ex breeding dog will never have seen children before and find them a bit much. Also consider avoiding a fragile dog that could get hurt by accident by a well meaning child... and avoid a large bouncy dog who could accidentally knock a small child!
Would you like to adopt a puppy? Whilst pups can be a great match if you have children, you do need to remember that puppy teeth and claws are very sharp and excited pups WILL accidentally scratch, bite and chew for a while!

I DON'T HAVE A GARDEN
Are you prepared to get up early and get dressed to walk your dog outside to use the toilet before you've had your morning coffee? Are you prepared to get your wellies on several times a day in all weathers to allow your dog to toilet? Are you prepared for inevitable accidents indoors? Do you have somewhere that a dog can go and relax outside and enjoy being outdoors with you?

I AM AN OLDER PERSON
Being retired and adopting a dog can be perfect for both the adopter and the lucky dog that gets to be their companion. Again, the key is finding the right match.
Are you able to meet the dog's exercise needs? All dogs have different levels of energy, just like we humans do. Finding your perfect exercise partner is paramount to any successful adoption. Choosing a dog that will run rings around you or is too strong for you could make walking a dog a stressful chore, rather than the pleasure it should be. Whilst none of us can predict the future, do try to consider your abilities both now and in perhaps 5-10 years time.
Do you have a support network? Our most successful adoptions are where the adopter has a good network of family or friends to step in and offer some practical support if needed.

I WORK
We appreciate that most people have to work to be able to provide for their dogs. Please bear in mind that most of our dogs have not lived inside before and so will need someone at home most of the time to be able to settle it into a home environment. The need to teach them about house training and other home skills and encourage them to bond with people.

Do you work more than 5hrs a day? A dog that has never lived indoors won't know about manners, how to behave etc and they need you to be there to show them. Leaving a dog several hours a day cannot help them settle and you may find that they could start to chew, howl, mess and you may end up feeling frustrated and discouraged. Perhaps you can ask family to help reduce the time a dog is left alone or choose a confident dog where you could use a daycare service

MY DOG IS NOT NEUTERED
As a rescue we are very passionate about spaying and neutering for both medical and ethical reasons. We see too many dogs with pyometra, mammary cancer, testicular cancer, behavioural problems all associated with not having a dog neutered. It is heartbreaking to lose a dog on the vets table to preventable conditions. We also see far too many unplanned litters of pups here at the rescue. By neutering you are able to prevent this from happening.

I still don't want to neuter my dog due to personal preference or medical conditions. We can consider adoptions where the dog is the right match. For example if one of our spayed females is rehomed where there is an entire male we would expect that the male dog is polite with her and not inclined to mount her. Our dogs need to go to loving homes where they are free from such harassment. If your dog is a gentleman however, then it could be a wonderful match.

Please note: Unfortunately we wouldn't be able to place a puppy where there are dogs that have not been neutered.

I RENT MY HOME
That's ok, we rehome many dogs to homes that are rented. We do have to check with your landlord that they are happy for you to have a dog at the property. To speed up the applications process please obtain your landlords permission in writing BEFORE you apply for a dog. We regret that we are unable to accept your application without this.

If your application is successful you will be home checked and you, all members of your family and any dog(s) who will be living with the dog MUST come to meet the dog you want to adopt.

All our dogs are micro-chipped, wormed and have had at least their first inoculation.* They are also spayed/neutered unless there is a medical reason for not doing so or they are too young. If you adopt a puppy you will be asked to complete a spay/neuter agreement confirming both you and your vet agree to spay/neuter the puppy when it is 6 months old.

You must have a safe means of transporting the dog home in a crate or if this is not possible please discuss with our Rehoming Team or the Fosterer when your application is being processed. We do not allow any dogs to be taken home on public transport so you must have your own means of transport for getting to and from where the dog is located.

* Many Tears uses Vanguard7 to vaccinate their dogs. However, this can sometimes be difficult to source at local vets. If you are adopting a dog or puppy that has only had one vaccination your vet may require you to start the course from the beginning with a different vaccine. If you contact Vanguard Customer Services on 0845 3008034 they will help you find the vet closest to you who will do the second Vanguard7 vaccination.