CONSIDERING ADOPTING A DOGGIE RESCUE DOG?
We call taking a dog an adoption because we believe a dog should always
be a valued part of a family unit. Our adoption cost is based on the
basic veterinary costs of desexing, C5 vaccinations, heartworm test and
microchipping. Adoption costs vary from $250 to $345 depending upon age
& sex of the dog.
Our dogs are socialized with other dogs and are used to sleeping
indoors. We want this practice to continue as a DoggieRescue dog should
be part of the family and share in the family's activities. It also
avoids potential barking at night disturbing neighbours. And a dog that
feels part of the family is a better pet in the long run.
We always like to meet the person who is considering adopting the dog.
If you would like to adopt a dog as a gift for a friend we suggest
bringing the person concerned and making a visit to one of our adoption
centres or North Rocks Vet Hospital. Remember a dog is a commitment for
life of the dog -- this can be more than 15 years!
HOW TO ADOPT A DOG OR PUP
Step 1: Completing the "Choosing your new Friend' form
Doggie Rescue asks all people interested in adopting a dog to complete a
simple form, called "Helping you choose your new friend". You can
download it by clicking on the link located at the bottom of this page
(you'll need Microsoft word). The questions on this form will help shape
your thinking about the sort of dog that's best for you, and will help
Doggie Rescue volunteers to suggest suitable dogs. Questions asked will
include:
- Have you owned a dog before?
- What sort of fencing do you have?
- How often are you able to exercise the dog?
- Where will the dog spend most of the day?
- Will you be home at any part of the day?
- Where will the dog be sleeping at night?
- Where will the dog be when you are not at home?
- Do you have other dogs or pets such as cats or rabbits?
These and other questions are important to think about, and the answers
will help shape your choice of the perfect pet.
Completing and returning this form is an important first stage prior to
all adoptions. You are welcome to complete the form prior to visiting
the dog/s and bring it with you, or alternatively you can fill out a
form when you visit the dog/s.
It is important to emphasize that Doggie Rescue's goal is to place the
dogs and pups in homes which are permanent, loving and safe. Your
answers on the "Helping to Choose Your New Friend' form will help us to
assess the suitability of your home and circumstances to take on a
Doggie Rescue dog. Please read our Policies section for more detail.
Need Help Choosing Your New Friend?
If you'd like Doggie Rescue to assist you with your selection, complete
the form and e-mail it to
Monika@DoggieRescue.com or fax it back on 02 9486 3136. You're
welcome to include any names of dogs in which you are particularly
interested. We can call you back with a suggested shortlist of breeds
and dogs that might be suitable to meet your needs.
Step 2: Selecting the right dog or pup for you
This website lists all of the dogs and pups available for adoption. Dogs
are listed under the heading, "Adopt a Dog". Here you'll find the dogs
grouped according to age - pups under 16weeks, between 16 weeks and 12
months, 12months to 2 years, 2 - 4 years, 4 - 6 years and 'golden
oldies'. For each pup and dog you'll find a coloured photo, and a
description of the dog's breed, physical appearance and temperament.
There will also be a contact number of the foster carer or foster co-ordinator
who you can speak to about arranging a time/place to meet the dog.
Apartment Friendly Dogs
Look out for the 'Apartment Friendly' sign if you are looking for a dog
or puppy which will be suitable for unit or townhouse living. These dogs
are smaller breeds that will be happy to live in a more confined space.
Of course, you will need to commit to regular, twice daily walking and
make sure you have the appropriate approval to own a dog in your block!
Special Needs Dogs
Some of the dogs that come to DoggieRescue have a 'special' quality.
They may have a physical disability, such as deafness or poor eyesight,
or they may have been particularly abused or neglected by their previous
owners. These dogs require special attention, dedicated owners and a
greater investment of time and effort to their long-term health needs.
If you feel you have the qualities to become a Special Needs parent,
visit the Special Needs section on this website, and talk to Monika
further about the dog/s that interest you.
Step 3: Meeting Your New Friend
When you have chosen some dogs or pups on our site, it is a good idea to
call the DoggieRescue.com office on 9486 3133 or 0429 0444 84 to check
that the dogs are still available & get any updates that we might be
able to provide.
Assuming the dog is still available, it's time to meet! The description
against each dog and pup will also include details of where the dog or
pup currently resides. They are likely to be in one of three places:
Adoption Centres
We have adoption centres at Ingleside, Drummoyne and Alexandria where
some of our dogs are available for viewing - however it is best to phone
a few days beforehand to request the dog/s you wish to meet.
Private Home with a Foster Carer
All of our dogs are in foster care, in a private home somewhere in
Sydney. The foster co-ordinator or carer's name, suburb, and contact
phone number will be listed for these dogs. To find out more about a dog
in foster care, or to meet them, you are welcome to make contact
directly with the foster carer/co-ordinator to arrange a mutually
convenient time. Adopting a dog that is in foster care can be especially
good, because you generally receive a lot more detail about the dog. The
dog has been living as part of the carer's family, so they can give you
good information on things like how the dog is with children, whether
the dog is toilet trained, how they manage alone during the day, how
they relate to other dogs, etc. The carer/co-ordinator's goal is to find
the best possible match for the dog, - and to broker a union in which
both the owner and the dog will be blissfully happy. If it seems that
the you and the dog are right for each other, the foster carer/co-ordinator
will suggest a meeting (if you have an existing dog bring him/her too!).
Most transactions between foster carers and adopting families result in
a blissfully happy union for both dog and owner. Many foster carers stay
in regular touch with the adopting families, even receiving Christmas
cards from their grateful and happy former 'foster children'!
Unfortunately there are rare occasions where, on inspection, the foster
carer believes that the environment of the prospective adopting family
is not ideal for the dog. Poor fencing, insufficient space, and lack of
suitable shelter during the day are typical reasons. When this happens,
the foster carer will generally decide that it is not in the interests
of dog to leave him with the owner, and will take him home again, This
may only be for a few days, while the owner makes the necessary repairs
or additions, but in other cases, the foster carer may decide that the
environment is just not suitable for the dog, and decline the offer of
adoption.
This creates a terrible situation for everyone. The family is devastated
because the dog they were hoping to adopt is not staying, and the carer
feels very uncomfortable because they are forced to say no to the
family.
For this reason we urge you to ensure that the environment is suitable
for the dog, BEFORE you meet the foster dog. Check out the website for
tips on making sure your property is secure. Of course, the foster carer
can check the property with you and help you identify any potential
escape points that you may have overlooked. For first time dog owners in
particular, this can be very helpful.
So we urge you to do as much homework as possible beforehand, to ensure
that this doesn't happen to you. Getting a new dog is a special day in
every family's life, and we really want to ensure that this day and
beyond is truly wonderful for your family.
Step 4: Adopting Your New Friend
Once you have met the dog and has satisfied yourself that this
particular dog is the right one for you (and assuming that Doggie Rescue
is satisfied that you and the dog are able to meet one another's needs)
you're ready to adopt!
You'll be asked to complete and sign an Adoption Form, and to make
appropriate payment. In cases where the dog is adopted directly from a
foster carer, the foster carer will check that the adoption form has
been fully completed, and will send the form and payment directly to
Doggie Rescue. You can take the dog with you then and there (make sure
you bring a spare lead and maybe a few old towels for the car!), and our
office will mail out the rest of the paperwork, which includes desexing
and vaccination certificates.
There are important guidelines and policies associated with the adoption
of Doggie Rescue dogs. Please see the section entitled, "Our Policies."
Costs and Payment
Our adoption cost is based on the basic veterinary costs of desexing, C5
vaccination, heartworm test and microchipping. Adoption costs vary from
$275 to $395 depending upon age & sex of the dog. We accept credit cards
(Visa, Mastercard ) as well as cheques and cash.
Step 5: After the Adoption
This is the best part of all, when you take the dog home and introduce
him/her as the newest member of your family.
Let Your Dog Settle In
There are some good tips and guidelines about helping your new family
member settle in to their new surroundings and we urge you and your
family to read the section entitled, "Settling In" on this website.
It's most important to understand that many of these dogs have been at
Doggie Rescue for some months or even longer. They may not have been
toilet trained - some have never even seen inside a lounge room before!
Most have been used to living in kennel conditions with little
one-on-one attention, and so the experience of concentrated attention
from the family will be new, and a little unsettling for them. So please
be patient with them! Give them some time to settle in, to leave a few
unwelcome gifts on your floor, and to feel comfortable. Almost always
they will settle in within a week or so.
Please Tag Your Dog!
Your adopted dog will go home with you wearing a plastic Doggie Rescue
identification tag, in which we'll also record your contact phone
number. PLEASE keep your dog tagged at all times. Many dogs have escaped
on day one, before the owners have had a chance to have a new
identification tag engraved.
4 Week Settling In Period
There are rare occasions when the dog and the family don't suit one
another. That's why Doggie Rescue offers a 4 week settling in period. If
within this period, you feel that this dog is not for you. Please note
that Doggie Rescue will ALWAYS take back a dog, regardless of how long
you have had the dog.
Documentation
Within a few weeks after the adoption, you will receive documentation
from Doggie Rescue, including a current vaccination certificate,
desexing certificate, and notification that your dog is now listed as
living at your address (for microchip tracking purposes, in the event
that your dog is lost).
On Line Forms
You can down load any of the following forms by
clicking on the appropriate link. NB you will need Microsoft Word.
Adoption Form
