Adoption and Responsible Rehoming

An animal is a commitment of years, not weeks. Before contacting anybody, be honest with yourself about time, money, housing and health.

• How many hours a day would the animal be left alone?
• Does your tenancy agreement, lease or landlord allow the animal you have in mind?
• Who would care for it during work, holidays, illness or a hospital stay?
• Can you meet ongoing costs including food, insurance, vaccination, parasite treatment and unexpected veterinary bills?
• Does everyone in the household agree, including anyone with allergies?
• Is your work, health or housing likely to change in the next few years?

Deciding not to adopt, or to wait, is a responsible decision rather than a failure.

The best match is the animal that suits your actual life, not the one that looks most appealing.

• Dogs need daily exercise, company, training and, for some breeds, a great deal of both.
• Cats vary widely: some need outdoor access, others settle indoors, and some need quiet homes without young children.
• Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals are not low-effort. Most need companions of their own kind and large, secure housing.
• Older animals are often calmer and already house-trained, and may suit a quieter household.
• Puppies and kittens need constant supervision, training and time away from work.
• Animals with ongoing medical needs can be wonderful companions, but budget for treatment and ask what insurance will cover.

A reputable organisation puts the animal first and is open about what it knows. Look for these signs.

• It asks you detailed questions about your home and does a home check or call.
• It gives written information on health, vaccinations, neutering, microchipping and known behaviour.
• It lets you meet the animal more than once and does not pressure you.
• It explains its adoption fee and what that fee covers.
• It offers advice afterwards and will take the animal back if things go wrong.
• It will say no when a match is unsuitable, which is a good sign rather than a rejection of you.

Be cautious of anyone who will not let you see where the animal is kept, wants cash quickly, or offers to meet in a car park.

Write your questions down and take them with you. Reasonable questions include:

• What is known about the animal’s history and why is it here?
• Has it ever bitten, scratched or shown aggression, and in what circumstances?
• What medical conditions, medication or ongoing treatment does it have?
• Is it neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and treated for parasites?
• How is it with children, other dogs, cats and being left alone?
• What food and routine is it used to?
• What support is available afterwards, and what happens if the match does not work?

Ask for the answers in writing where you can. A good organisation will be glad to give them.

A little preparation prevents most early problems and helps the animal settle faster.

• Get written permission from a landlord or housing provider before you commit.
• Set up a quiet space with bedding, water and somewhere the animal can retreat to.
• Check fences, gates, windows and doors, and move medicines, cleaning products and poisonous plants out of reach.
• Agree household rules in advance: who feeds, who walks, and where the animal may go.
• Teach children to leave the animal alone when it is eating, sleeping or hiding.
• Register with a veterinary practice before the animal arrives.

The adoption fee is the smallest part of the cost. Plan for the whole life of the animal.

• Food, litter, bedding, bowls, leads, collars and a carrier
• Vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, and routine check-ups
• Neutering and dental treatment
• Pet insurance, or savings set aside for emergencies
• Boarding, day care, dog walking or a sitter
• Training classes, particularly for dogs
• Unexpected illness or injury, which can be expensive

If money is already tight, look at what help exists before taking on an animal.

Most animals need days or weeks to settle, and some need longer. Slow introductions work better than quick ones.

• Keep the first few days quiet, with few visitors and a predictable routine.
• Let the animal come to you rather than lifting, cuddling or crowding it.
• Introduce other pets slowly, through separate spaces and scent first, then short supervised meetings.
• Feed animals separately to avoid conflict over food.
• Keep a new cat indoors for the period the rescue organisation recommends before allowing outdoor access.
• Expect some toileting accidents, hiding, restlessness or upset stomach at first.

Contact the rescue organisation or a veterinary practice early if you are worried, rather than waiting until things escalate.

Most reputable organisations offer help after the animal goes home. Use it; that is what it is for.

• Ring the organisation’s advice line about behaviour or settling problems.
• Ask a veterinary practice about health, diet, medication or sudden changes in behaviour.
• Ask about qualified behaviour help early. Problems are easier to change before they become habits.
• Tell the organisation if your circumstances change, so it can advise before a crisis.

Take the steps in order, and give yourself as much time as you safely can.

• Contact the original breeder, seller or rescue organisation first. Many will accept the animal back, and some contracts require it.
• Then contact established rescue organisations. Waiting lists are common, so ask early and ask more than one.
• Ask a trusted relative or friend whether they could take the animal temporarily while you sort things out.
• Be completely honest about health, behaviour and any bite history, in writing.
• Never abandon an animal or leave it with somebody you cannot check.

Sometimes the problem is temporary or practical, and rehoming can be avoided altogether.

• Help with food and essential supplies from a pet food bank
• Help with veterinary costs if you receive certain benefits
• Temporary fostering while somebody is in hospital or reaching safety
• Volunteer help with dog walking, litter trays, grooming or vet transport
• Qualified behaviour advice for a problem that feels unmanageable
• Written permission from a landlord, which is worth asking for directly

If rehoming is the right answer, do it in a way that protects the animal and the new household.

• Use a reputable rescue organisation wherever possible.
• If a friend or relative takes the animal, still put the arrangement and the animal’s needs in writing.
• Never advertise an animal as free to a good home.
• Meet any prospective keeper at their home, so you can see where the animal will live.
• Ask about children, other animals, working hours and their veterinary practice.
• Never hand an animal over in a car park or to somebody who will not be checked.
• Trust your instincts and walk away if anything feels wrong. You are allowed to say no.

Pass on everything the new keeper will need, honestly and in writing.

• Vaccination record and veterinary practice details
• Microchip number and the database the animal is registered with
• Neutering status and any surgery the animal has had
• All medical conditions, medication, doses prescribed and repeat arrangements
• Behaviour information, including any history of biting, scratching or fear of particular situations
• Current food, feeding routine and anything the animal must not eat
• Insurance details, pedigree papers and any adoption contract
• Familiar bedding or a toy, which helps the animal settle

A microchip only helps if the details behind it are correct. Updating them is the keeper’s responsibility.

• Find out which database the animal is registered with before the handover, and how a transfer is made.
• The new keeper should be recorded as soon as the animal moves, with correct telephone numbers and address.
• Update the details again after any house move or change of number.
• Requirements are not identical throughout the UK and differ between dogs and cats, so check the current government guidance for your situation.

Free listings and social-media posts attract people who resell animals, breed from them or want them for cruel purposes.

• Never advertise an animal as free, and never accept the first offer under pressure.
• Be wary of anyone who will not give a full name and address, or who cannot be telephoned.
• Be wary of anyone who wants the animal immediately, asks no questions, or wants several animals.
• Do not accept payment by transfer for an animal you have not properly checked.
• Do not post your own address publicly, and take somebody with you to any meeting.
• Report suspected cruelty or animal dealing rather than ignoring it.

These organisations rehome animals across the UK and publish advice for owners. Coverage, waiting lists and eligibility vary, so contact them directly.

• RSPCA – giving up a pet (opens in a new tab)
• RSPCA – benefits of adopting a pet (opens in a new tab)
• Blue Cross – find a rehoming centre (opens in a new tab)
• Dogs Trust (opens in a new tab)
• Cats Protection – adopt a cat (opens in a new tab)
• GOV.UK – get your dog or cat microchipped (opens in a new tab)