Adoption Process

Our Adoption Process

First Steps

After reading through our “Are You Rescue Ready?” section, you’ve decided you are ready to welcome a dog or cat into your family. That’s wonderful news!

1. Complete an Adoption Application

The first step is to complete our adoption application form.

Once you have submitted your form, please message us via our Facebook page to let us know it has been completed. At this stage we will also ask you to send:

• Photos of your home (and garden if you have one)
• Photos of where your new dog or cat will eat and sleep
• If you rent your home, written permission from your landlord confirming pets are allowed

We are unable to proceed with applications until this information has been received.

Please allow a few days for us to review your application, as we receive a large number of enquiries.

Applying for a Specific Dog or Cat

If you are applying for a particular dog or cat, we will carefully review your application to ensure it matches the animal’s needs.

If we believe you may be a good match, a member of our team will contact you to arrange a phone call to discuss things further.

We always aim to provide as much information as possible about each animal in their advert, so please make sure the dog or cat’s needs match your home and lifestyle before applying.

Honesty is Important

Please answer all questions on the application form honestly. Our priority is finding the most suitable homes for our dogs and cats.

If we feel a particular animal may not be the right match for you, please do not be discouraged. Often another dog or cat may be a much better fit for your home and lifestyle.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not always be able to respond to every enquiry individually.

General Applications

If you submit a general application (not for a specific animal), we will keep your details on file for up to three months in case a suitable dog or cat becomes available.

After three months, applications are automatically deleted, but you are always welcome to apply again.

2. Initial Contact

If we believe a dog or cat may be a good match for your home, a member of the team will contact you to check whether you are still looking to adopt and to discuss the animal in more detail.

This initial phone call is an important part of the process but does not guarantee a match. It simply helps us ensure that the animal and adopter are well suited to each other.

Step 3 – Home Check

Once a member of our team has spoken with you and believes you may be a good match for one of our dogs or cats, we will arrange a home check.

Home checks are usually carried out via video call (WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger). This allows us to:

• Ensure everyone in the household is happy to welcome a new pet
• Check that the home environment is safe and suitable
• Confirm that any garden space (if applicable) is secure for dogs
• Discuss the animal’s needs and answer any questions you may have

If we identify any potential issues during the home check, we will discuss these with you and see whether they can be resolved.

We ask all adopters to meet the animal before adoption so everyone feels comfortable. If you already have a resident dog, a meet and greet may be arranged to ensure they get along.

Please note that a successful home check must take place before any meetings are arranged.

We may also ask to see a form of ID, such as a utility bill, to confirm your address.

Step 4 – Reserving Your Pet

If everything goes well and both sides feel it is the right match, you will be asked to pay a £100 non-refundable deposit to reserve the animal.

At this stage we will also send you:

• A copy of the adoption contract to review and sign
• Additional information about your new dog or cat
• Guidance to help you prepare for their arrival

The remaining adoption fee must be paid before collection.

You will usually be added to a Facebook chat with the foster carer, where you can ask questions and arrange a suitable collection date.

When collecting your dog, please bring:

• A crate for safe travel
• A slip lead

For safety reasons, dogs cannot leave without appropriate travel equipment.

For cats, please bring a secure cat carrier for safe transport.

We offer support and advice even after you've collected your dog/cat

and you will be invited to join our Facebook adopters

group where you can share photos and stories of your new

addition as well as talk with other fellow Love4Dogs adopters.