Thinking of adopting from Zoe's Home Rescue? That's fantastic! We're always excited to welcome new members into our community of animal lovers. But before you dive in, there are a few important things you should know to ensure that both you and your new pet have the best experience possible.

 

Understanding the Challenges

Adopting a pet from Romania comes with its unique set of challenges. Many of our dogs and puppies, for instance, are not housetrained and might never have lived indoors. Adjusting to a new home environment can take time and patience. Similarly, while we do our best to understand and communicate each animal's personality, there's no guarantee of how they'll adapt to new situations. It's a journey of discovery for both you and your pet.

 

Our Adoption Requirements

To increase the chances of a successful adoption, we have put in place certain criteria that potential adopters need to meet. These requirements are not to make the process difficult but to ensure the safety and well-being of both our animals and adopters:

 

1. Families with Young Children: We generally do not adopt to families with young children. This is because many of our dogs, having been street dogs, might not understand or be fearful of children and their unpredictable movements.

 

2. Age Limit for Adopters: The age limit for adopters varies depending on the animal. This is to ensure that both the pet and the adopter are a good fit for each other in terms of energy levels and long-term care capabilities.

 

3. Access to a Secure Garden: A secure garden (either with a house or a ground-floor flat) is essential. Our dogs often need an outdoor space for toilet training and exercise. Additionally, since many of our dogs are skilled at jumping and climbing, a secure boundary is crucial to prevent them from escaping.

​

4. We can only adopt to mainland UK (not Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scottish Islands etc): This is due to a DEFRA ruling that says the animals must be delivered directly to the front door of the dog or cat's new address. Our transport vehicles are unable to take the extra time to travel to the islands, and we can't deliver to an address that is not the registered address of the animal (ie we can't deliver to a friend or relative even if you're there).

 

We understand that these requirements might be disappointing to some, but they are in place to protect both you and the animal. As a small rescue, our capacity to rehome animals that return to us is limited. Hence, we focus on getting it right the first time.

 

Why We Have These Requirements

The logic behind our requirements is simple:

 

Safety for Children: Our dogs, often unfamiliar with small children, might react unpredictably. Adults can adapt their behaviour, but it's harder for children to do so.

 

Suitability for Elderly Adopters: Energetic puppies or dogs might be overwhelming for elderly adopters, so we aim to match you with a pet that suits your lifestyle.

 

Preventing Rehoming: Issues like repeated indoor soiling due to lack of garden access can lead to frustration and the wish to re-home. We're proactive in preventing such situations.

 

Ready to Adopt?

If you're ready to embark on this rewarding journey and feel you meet our criteria, we'd love to hear from you. Adopting a rescue animal is a beautiful act of love and commitment, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

 

Get in touch, and let's start the process of finding your new best friend!