Adoption

Policy on Re-Homing Companion Animals (Updated March 2017)

Aim

The Branch aims to accept all those animals which are suitable for re-homing into its care, until they can be placed in appropriate permanent and caring homes.

RSPCA Re-homing Policy and Practices 

The Branch supports the RSPCA policy, and will abide by the guidelines.

Branch Guidelines

(i) Wherever possible animals will be accepted straight away.   If accommodation is not available, animals will be kept in order on a waiting list.   (NB due to the numbers involved, there is no waiting list for cats at this time).

(ii) In certain cases, priorities will be allowed to “jump” the queue.   These cases include, but are not limited to:

• Inspectorate cruelty or welfare cases;
• animals whose owners have died or become permanently incapacitated;
• animals whose owner are being evicted or moving immediately; and
• animals who are taken to a vets or the Branch Clinic for euthanasia, who are suitable for re-homing

(iii) The Branch would not normally re-home an animal where:-

• the animal (dog, puppy or kitten only) would regularly be left unattended for more than four hours;
• the adopters are non-permanent UK residents;
• the adopter’s accommodation has no access to a garden (dogs only)
• the adopter’s accommodation is beside a busy road (cats); and
• the adopter lives in a flat other than a ground floor flat (cats), unless the cat is to stay permanently in the flat and not be let outdoors, e.g. FIV positive animals.

 

Additional Points to Note

• Adopters who have communal gardens should be assessed on a case by case basis; taking into account the wishes of the landlord, other residents, the presence of other animals and access to/the security of the garden.
• If in a rented/housing association/HM forces or council property, adopters need to obtain the landlord, superior or establishment’s permission within 3 working days of the reservation being taken. The request for a home visit will not be sent to the Home Visit Co-ordinator until permission has been received. If receipt of required documents has not taken place, the Centre reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
• Applications by service personnel should also be assessed on a case by case basis.   Written proof is required by the service person’s superiors as to whether they will move out of the UK in the foreseeable future.
• Animals to be re-homed with children, or where children visit (e.g. grand children), must be carefully matched to the household and assessed on a case by case basis, taking into account the age, nature and experiences of both the animal and children.
• We generally ask for a minimum five foot fence for dogs.  However, each case should, again, be assessed on a case by case basis.   For example, an elderly dog or toy dog could need less. We should give all adopters the opportunity to improve their fencing.
• We will ask all applicants to complete a copy of our own Branch Animal Application Forms at the Centre for each individual species.  If you have completed a “Perfect Match” form taken off the National RSPCA website, we will need to ask you to kindly complete our form as well.
• In exceptional circumstances, where a potential adopter has to travel more than 50 miles to view an animal, the Branch is able to email an application form which can be completed and returned to us before visiting the Centre.
• We cannot rehome to a household where any member has an allergy relating to the animal/s being adopted
• Vaccination details of current owned animal (cats, dogs and rabbits only) to be seen by the centre staff and photo copied for records within 3 working days of reservation being taken. The request for a home visit will not be sent to the Home Visit Co-ordinator until the documents have been received.  If receipt of required documents has not taken place, the Centre reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
• Dogs, Rabbits, Ferrets and Guinea pigs are required to meet all of the same species that live in the home or reside within the same accommodation before adoption takes place. Existing animals may be required to visit more than once dependent on staff assessment of progress and outcomes.

 

Fostering

Animals which come into the Branch’s care may be fostered in the following circumstances, and priority must be given to those most in need:

• animals whose condition is deteriorating after a long stay or through stress;
• elderly or very young animals who may suffer stress when not in a home environment

All other re-homing rules and guidelines apply to a foster animal, including assessment and home visiting. No foster home should normally be used for more than one animal.

 

Assessment

No animals should normally be re-homed within seven (cats) to ten (all other animals) days of coming into the Branch’s care, to enable suitable assessments to be made.   All animals at the Centre will be fully assessed by staff, and the details will be recorded.

 

Home Visiting

Home visits should be made before re-homing an animal and between one to six months (ideally three to four months) afterwards, to ensure that the animal has been re-homed successfully.  The Home Visit Co-ordinator will monitor the home visitors.

 

Fostering before Adoption 

In some cases, at the discretion of the Animal Centre Managers, potential adopters will be asked to foster an animal for a period before they officially adopt. This is especially in cases where the animal has known behavioural issues, has been returned to us already or, in the case of rabbits, where we are re-homing to an adopter who has existing rabbit(s), to ensure they bond.

 

Adoption Fee

There is an adoption donation fee for all animals; this fee varies dependent on the animal being adopted.    Any change to the set fee is at the discretion of the Animal Centre Management.

 

Returning Animals

If an adopter decides that they no longer wish to keep the animal(s) that they have re-homed from our Branch, we ask that they contact us so that arrangements can be made to take the animal(s) back into our care.  It may be a little while before we can take the animal back into our care due to the number of spaces we have available, however we will help as soon as we possibly can.   All returns must be by prior arrangement wherever possible.

 

Neutering

Unless there are overriding medical reasons, all animals will be neutered before adoption takes place.   Where the animal is not old enough for the procedure to take place, the adopter will be provided with a voucher for the operation and the Animal Centre will carefully monitor the situation.

 

Vaccination

Unless there are overriding medical reasons, dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets will be vaccinated before adoption takes place. Where the animal is due a second vaccination, post adoption, an appointment will be arranged, at an appropriate date and time, for the Centre staff to carry out the procedure.

 

Internal and external parasites

Unless there are overriding medical reasons, an appropriate parasite treatment (e.g. for fleas, worms and mites) will be administered to dogs, cats, birds rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, appropriate to species, before adoption takes place.

 

Microchip

Unless there are overriding medical reasons, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and where appropriate birds will be microchipped before adoption takes place. It is now against the law to not have your dog microchipped.

 

Records 

A record of each animal which comes into the Branch’s care, including those fostered, should be maintained at the Animal Centre.

 

Records should include the known history, veterinary treatment, assessment details and records of home visits.  This data will be used for preparing monthly statistical returns.

 

Cats

• No holiday or change in circumstances within three months of adoption.
• 24/7 access to sheltered accommodation by means of cat flap, shed, garage, kennel or alternative. Evidence is required by the Managers within 5 working days of the reservation being taken. The request for a home visit will not be sent to the Home Visit Co-ordinator until the evidence has been received. If receipt of required information has not taken place, the Centre reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
• All indoor cats must be provided with litter trays (two litter trays per cat) and lots of stimulation.
• An outdoor/indoor cat cannot be housed with a FIV positive cat.
• Communal garden adoptions are dependent on home visit.
• Where the adopter’s accommodation is near a busy road or railway, Managers may authorise the adoption at their discretion.
• Adoptions to homes with no gardens are dependent on the home visit.
• If adopting to a house where there is one existing cat, the minimum requirement is that one cat (either the current cat or the adoptive cat) is fully vaccinated before any adoption/foster takes place (In a multi cat household all cats must be vaccinated.)
• Kittens can be left a maximum of four (4) hours at 0-6 months.
• Kittens can be left longer if two kittens are being adopted or there is a second cat in home. Centre management to decide on the individual circumstances.
• The number of cats per household must be equal to or less than the number of bedrooms in the house. If unsure of the space available for multi cat household, the Centre will depend on the home visitor’s feedback.
• All cats within the home to be neutered, unless there is a medical/age reason not to do so. A vet letter will be accepted.

 

Dogs

• No holiday or change in circumstances within three months of adoption.
• Adopting to a home where a holiday has been booked within 3-6 months of the adoption, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering dependent on the dog, and boarding/who is looking after the dog.

• The dog cannot be regularly left unattended for more than 4 hours within a 24 hour period. If the time the dog is left exceeds 4 hours, adoptions will be considered by the management on a case by case basis.
• Depending on the situation and nature or the dog, the Managers may agree to re-home a dog where the adopter plans to leave the dog for 8 hours, for a maximum of two days a week. The adopter must arrange for someone (e.g. a family member or friend) to come in and look after the dog so the dog is not left for longer than 4/5 hours on the 2 days in question. As that person is regularly involved in the care of the dog, they will be required to meet the dog pre-adoption and be involved with the home visit.
• We do not adopt dogs into situations where the care of the dog will be shared, e.g. where the dog is moved from house to house, or where the adopter will “drop off” the dog somewhere else. Please talk to a member of staff for more information. We do not re-home in this situation because it becomes very confusing for the dog and most of the dogs in our care require further training and socialising.
• Dogs can go to work with the adopter, dependent on dog, business and practicality of workplace. This will be assessed on a case by case basis. We may require confirmation from the business that the dog is allowed on its premises, dependent on the situation.
• Home visit of work place must be done if the dog will routinely be on the premises.
• Dog flaps will not be accepted as a substitute for maximum length of time the dog is left alone.
• All dogs within the home must be neutered, unless there is a medical/age reason not to do so. A vet letter will be accepted.
• All dogs must be vaccinated. If adopting to a house where there is an existing dog, the minimum requirement is that one dog (either the current dog or the adoptive dog) is fully vaccinated before any adoption/foster takes place. If not fully vaccinated, dogs can meet after 5 days from the first vaccination.
• As from 6 April 2016, it is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped. (Please see the Microchipping section of our website for how we may be able to help with microchipping.)
• We do not adopt dogs to homes with only communal or shared gardens.
• Adopting to homes with communal access to their own garden is dependent on feedback from the home visit.
• Puppies can be rehomed to households with children of any age dependent on meet at the centre. A request for a home visit will not be sent off until all children have met the dog.
• The dog’s nature and temperament will be assessed to decide if s/he will be suitable to be adopted to a home where the dog will be placed into boarding for holidays, etc.

 

Rabbits

• Rabbits can be rehomed singular as house rabbits or alongside/in view of other rabbits, depending on behaviour and/or medical status.
• House rabbits require their own room and hutch/crate, plus dirt box, foraging opportunities, toys, etc.
• Predatory animals must not have access to the area where the rabbits live.
• All rabbits within the home to be neutered.

• All rabbits within the home to be fully vaccinated against Myxomytosis and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease.
• Rabbit accommodation must be secure, weather proof, be one continuous area of 45 square foot (4.18 meters squared) and be a minimum of 2 and a half foot (0.6 meters) in height

 

Birds

• Birds will be rehomed to aviaries when possible
• The aviary must be secure and weather proof. Size will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will depends on number and species of bird/s.
• Birds can be rehomed singular or alongside/in view of other birds depending on species, behaviour and/or medical status.
• Home visits to be carried out for Aviaries and Indoor specialised birds.
• Home visits required where predatory animals are currently living in the household.

 

Degus

• All male Degus within the home to be neutered unless there are medical /age reasons not to do so. A vet letter will be accepted.
• Degus will be homed in pairs or groups where possible.
• Degus can be rehomed singular or alongside/in view of other degus depending on behaviour and/or medical status.
• Current and adopting animals are to meet prior to adoption.
• Home visits may be required where predatory animals are currently living in the household.
• Photograph/s of accommodation is/are required before the adoption can take place.
• Accommodation size minimum: 3ft (length) x 2ft (width) x 4ft (height)

 

Ferrets

• Adoptions to be considered with an awareness of prey animals in the vicinity of the new home.
• Ferrets will be homed in pairs or groups where possible.
• Ferrets can be rehomed singular as house ferrets or alongside/in view of other ferrets depending on behaviour and/or medical status.
• Current and adopting animals are to meet prior to adoption.
• All ferrets within the home to be neutered unless there is a medical/age reason not to do so. A vet letter will be accepted.
• Ferret accommodation must be secure, weather proof and a minimum size of 6ft (length) x 3ft (width) x 3ft.5 (height) (or 180cm (length) x 90cm (width) x 110cm (height))

 

Chinchillas

• All male chinchillas within the home to be neutered unless there are medical /age reasons not to do so. A vet letter will be accepted.
• Predatory animals must not have access to the room/area where the chinchillas live.
• Chinchillas can live in an outdoor aviary if set up with appropriate sleeping quarters. Please ask staff for more details.
• Current and adopting animals are to meet prior to adoption.
• If applicable, temporary accommodation must be provided so that the chinchillas can be placed next to one another during the bonding process.
• Home visits are required for all chinchillas.
• Chinchilla accommodation must be secure, weather proof and a minimum size of 6ft (Length) x 2ft (Width) x 5ft (Height)

 

Guinea pigs

• All male guinea pigs within the home to be neutered.
• Guinea pigs can be rehomed singular as house Guinea pigs or alongside/in view of other Guinea pigs depending on behaviour and/or medical status.
• Guinea pigs will be homed in pairs or groups where possible.
• Current and adopting animals are to meet prior to adoption.
• Home visits may be required where predatory animals are currently living in the same household.
• A photograph of the proposed accommodation is required before adoption.
• Guinea pig accommodation must be secure, weather proof and a minimum size of 6ft (length) x 2ft (width) x 2ft (height) (For 1-2 Guinea Pigs)
• For 3-4 Guinea Pigs we require a secure, weatherproof accommodation meeting at-least 6ft (length) x 4ft (width) x 4ft (height)

 

Rats

• Rats will be homed in pairs or groups where possible.
• Rats can be rehomed singular or alongside/in view of other rats depending on behaviour and/or medical status.
• A photograph of the proposed accommodation is required before adoption.
• Home visits may be required where predatory animals are currently living in the same household.
• If applicable, temporary accommodation must be provided so that the rats can be placed next to one another during the bonding process.
• Rat accommodation must be secure and a minimum size of 3ft (length) x 2ft (width) x 4ft (height) (or 90cm (length) x 60cm (width) x 150cm (height))

 

Small Animal(s)

• Hamster accommodation must be secure and a minimum size of  100cm (length) x 50cm (width) x 50cm (height) 6²ft total
• Mouse accommodation must be secure and a minimum size of 100cm (length) x 50cm (width) x 50cm (height) 6²ft total
• Gerbil accommodation must be a secure tank to hold suitable digging substrate and be a minimum size of 3ft (length) x 2ft (width) x 2ft (height) 6²ft total
• A photograph of the proposed accommodation is required before adoption.
• The accommodation bar width must be appropriate for the species to be rehomed.

 

The policies may be varied with the agreement of the Centre Manager and Trustees.