Adopting a rescue dog
Every year, thousands of dogs are rescued by the RSPCA and other animal charities in the UK.
These unwanted dogs have often been neglected and abused by their former owners, and they’re taken in to prevent them from harm.
If you’re thinking about getting a dog, why not consider adopting a rescue dog? Providing these dogs with a home is a great way to show them some much-need love and care, and ensure that they have a brighter future.
Online resources for dog adoption
Not sure where to start the adoption process? The RSPCA has some advice on rehoming to get you started. In 2012, the charity helped over 55,000 households find a new pet through rehoming – 17,000 of whom took home rescue dogs. You can learn more about the process on their website and download a dogs and puppies application form online too.
The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is one of the UK’s most famous animal rescue institutions. Visit their website and you can search through their catalogue of rescue dogs. Simply fill out a questionnaire and you’ll receive a call back from one of their Rehomers. However, their online list shows only a limited selection: to see the whole range of dogs and puppies you can adopt, visit their centres in Battersea in London, Brands Hatch in Kent or Old Windsor in Berkshire. If you’re undecided on whether you’d like to adopt, you can also foster rescue dogs through Battersea.
Another great place to look for rescue dogs is Blue Cross, an organisation dedicated to finding unwanted pets new homes around the UK. You’ll find a list of dogs available for adoption here: profiles consist of their names, breeds, basic details and their current location. And with Pets4Homes, you can find dogs to adopt across the country. Pets4Homes is one of the UK’s most trusted pet classified sites and has a good reputation for safety. You can also place wanted ads here, as well as browse pet advice and insurance deals.
Finding rescue homes near you
If you’re looking for rescue homes in your area, it’s easy to find ones in close proximity through an online search. Dogs Trust, for example, have 18 dog homes around the UK, including in Edinburgh, York, London and Ilfracombe. So wherever you live, a Dogs Trust home is probably within easy reach. If you live in Scotland, check out the Scottish SPCA’s home in Glasgow for rescue dogs to adopt. Or in Wales, Many Tears Rescue in South Wales is a good place to stop off too. And in Northern Ireland, the Assisi Animal Sanctuary is one of the largest of its kind in the region, offering shelter for up to 200 dogs, cats and rabbits.
To search nationwide, SupportAdoptionForPets.co.uk has a directory that you can look through online. On the RSPCA website, you can find services in your area too – so whether you want to adopt a dog or volunteer with the charity, this is a great place to find out more.
