1. what are your rules about a home for one of your dogs?

We try to be flexible, and treat each dog, and home offer, as an individual, so we do not have hard and fast rules. We try to match dog and prospective owner, however we do ask that your dog will have access to a secure garden, We do not normally home to an upstairs flat.

2. What do you charge for your dogs?
 We charge a homing fee of just £80.00. our dogs are, or will be, vaccinated neutered and microcipped.

3. Do you do a home check?
Yes, but if you are from outside the area we will ask for a letter, on headed paper, from either your vet, saying you are known as caring and sensible owners, or from a local rescue stating that you have a suitable home to offer a dog.

4. Will you take on my dog which needs a new home?
 NO we ONLY take dogs in as strays directly from the local dog wardens.  
We do not now even take dogs from the general public as strays unless we have been given the authority to do so by the dog warden service.  It is suspected some dog handed in as strays were handed in by the original owners.
If your dog needs of a new home, try some of the other rescues, through the links on our 'dogs' page.

5 If I took on a dog from you but for some reason it was not working out will you take it back?
Always if within the first month, when we will also refund the fee. After the first month, it will depend on our having the space, to do so. We now also insist, it is covered by an up to date (within the last year) vaccination, complete with the record card, and a donation towards costs till it can be re-homed.

6. Do you bring dogs in from Ireland and other places?
NEVER, we believe that there are already too many dogs in Dorset needng homes, without importing them from other counties or countries. We also believe that to do so reduces the places available for localogsin need and may add to the stray problems we already face.

7. How long does it take to aquire one of your dogs?
We believe dogs should go out into homes as quickly as possible, we do not want them to become institutionalised. It will vary but within one or two weeks should be ample, though we will keep a dog as reserved when a suitable home is offered but may not for some reason be possible for the dog to go straight way. Though we have now to insist that if we are being asked to reserve a dog that we receive a deposit to confirm the home offer.

8. I live in rented accomodation, can I still take on one of your dogs?
As long as we have a letter from your landlord stating that you have permission to have a dog, along with any restrctions that may apply. for example size or breed.

9. What food do you use?
We keep to a few well respected complete foods usually one that is 'hypoallergenic', though we may give small amounts of meat if a dog needs to be encouraged to eat. We do not use highly coloured foods, and avoid high salt or sugar content.

10. Do you home to a houshold with children?
When the dog is appropriate, and the children sensible, and caring.

11. Some charities have a 'registration number' what is this, and are you registered?
If a charity has an income of at least £5000 in a year, they can register with the charities commision. The advantages are that the charity can then reclaim VAT, and take donations under the 'gift aid' scheme, which means that the tax that would have been paid on that amount goes to the charity. We have made the £5000, requirement, and will register but have not done so as yet.

12. what is the best dog to have with a child?
Any breed can be good with children if reared and socialised well, and as long as children are well behaved with the dog, and it has always at least one place to go where it knows it will be left alone if feeling ill or hot.. However I feel it has to be said that for some children the best bet really is a visit to the toy shop for a cuddly toy dog.

13. Will you let a child own the dog?  
No there are laws that restrict the age at which a child is considered able to care for a pet.  Most children are not ready to properly care for a dog, ie. feed; groom; exercise, and clean up after it. We would refuse to home to anyone who says they want a dog for their child unless this is someone who is at least 16 to 17 years of age, and that there is a stratagy in place for when this young adult goes to college; university or starts work.

14. What do you know about the dogs background?
Nothing at all normally, they come to us as strays, so we do not have access to an owner unless they come forward but for some reason do not reclaim their pet, and are willing to pass on any information. We can work out a certain amount, but we will not have experience of them with many situations they will meet in daily life in a home.