Adoption Policy

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Our aim is to ensure that all the dogs in our care are found loving new homes, where a lifestyle, appropriate to the Staffie breed can be assured. We will undertake a home visit to ensure the home environment is suitable to the breed and nature, and that the home and garden environment is compatible for keeping a dog. During this visit we will interview all the prospective owners and members of the household You must be able to provide suitable valid identification confirming your name and address. Prospective owners must be aged 18 or over. We will not rehome dogs to any household with children under the age of 5 years, and reserve the right to increase this minimum age level for specific dogs. If you do not own your home we may require written permission from your council, housing association or landlord. As Staffies are companion animals we will not rehome to potential owners who are likely to leave a dog alone for long periods of time We will not rehome a dog to an environment where the dog will be kept outside the home We will not rehome dogs to working roles such as security or policing – all dogs will be rehomed to a loving home environment as a family member You must bring any other dog that resided at your home and any dogs that visit your home on a regular basis to be introduced to your prospective new dog at the original time of viewing We expect all new owners to understand that rehoming a rescue dog is a serious commitment and give their new dog a reasonable amount of time to settle to its new life. Happy Staffie Rescue will help and support new owners through the transitional phase of rehoming a Staffie. If an irresolvable problem arises the dog should be returned to Happy Staffie Rescue. The viewing of dogs is made by appointment only, and dates and times are subject to the requirements of the boarding kennels where our dogs stay. We are a charity, and our income is solely from public and local business donations, and activities for generating income including organised events and the sale of donated goods, therefore we ask for a non refundable minimum donation of £120. This helps us cover the cost of kennelling fees, neutering (where appropriate), flea and worming treatments, chipping, veterinary costs (including pre rehoming vet check and grooming) Our decision to rehome a dog is made for the benefit of the dog in question and is entirely at the discretion of Happy Staffie Rescue. We are unable to suggest or guarantee rehome approval until the home check is carried out and all potential owners and household members are interviewed We cannot guarantee that any dog featured on our web site will be suitable for a prospective owner.  See below for further information* We cannot accept responsibility for the temperament of any dog once it has been rehomed, however any behavioural, anxiety, temperament or health issues the dog may have will be made clear to prospective owners.  See below for further information**.  * We cannot guarantee that any dog featured on our website will be suitable for a prospective owner The dogs currently in our care have differing needs and can only be matched to a new home once one of our home checkers has completed a successful home visit.     ** We cannot accept responsibility for the temperament of any dog once it has been rehomed. To the best of our ability all our dogs are given health and temperament assessments.  However once a dog has settled into a new home his or her behaviour can sometimes change.  Often dogs take several weeks to adjust to a new home. They can display a variety of behaviours from fear and nervousness to joy and excitement.  We strongly advise new owners to undertake reward-based training to quickly encourage your dog to behave in the manner you want and respond to your commands. We can only advise on the temperament of any dog while it is in our care, or in rare occasions based on the information provided by previous owners. We cannot guarantee how dogs in our care will interact with children or other family pets so care should be taken at all times and as with any dog no young children should be left alone with a dog unsupervised.     We advice prospective owners to familiarise themselves with Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 288 below: The Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992. Information source www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19920288_en_1.htm  The Secretary of State for the Environment as respects England, the Secretary of State for Scotland as respects Scotland, and the Secretary of State for Wales as respects Wales, in exercise of their powers under sections 149(5), (8) and (11), 150(2) and (6), and 161 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:  Title, commencement and interpretation  1.—(1)  These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations 1992 and shall come into force on 1st April 1992.     (2)  In these Regulations, "the Act" means the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and "seized dog" means a dog seized pursuant to section 149 of that Act.  Prescribed amount to be paid by owner of seized dog   2.    For the purposes of section 149(5) of the Act, the sum of £25 (twenty-five pounds) is hereby prescribed as the further amount (additional to all expenses) to be paid by a person claiming to be the owner of a seized dog before he is entitled to have the dog returned to him.  Register of seized dogs — prescribed particulars 3.    For the purposes of section 149(8) of the Act, the following are the prescribed particulars to be contained in the register of seized dogs which is kept by the officer—  (a) a brief description of each dog, including its breed (if known), and any distinctive physical characteristics or markings, tattoos or scars; (b) any information which is recorded on a tag or collar worn by, or which is otherwise carried by, the dog; (c) the date, time and place of the seizure; (d) where a notice has been served pursuant to section 149(4), the date of service of the notice, and the name and address of the person on whom it has been served; (e) where the officer disposes of the dog pursuant to section 149(6)—  (i) the date of disposal; (ii) whether disposal was by destruction, gift or sale, and if by sale, the price obtained; (iii) the name and address of the purchaser, done or person effecting the destruction; and (f) where the dog was returned to a person claiming to be its owner, the name and address of that person, and the date of return.  Procedure where finder desires to keep a stray dog 4.—(1)  This regulation prescribes the procedure to be followed by the officer for the purposes of section 150(2)(a) before a finder desiring to keep a stray dog is allowed to remove it.     (2)  The officer shall make a clear and accurate record of the following matters in a permanent form suitable for reference purposes—  (a) a brief description of the dog, including its breed (if known), and any distinctive physical characteristics or markings, tattoos or scars; (b) any information which is recorded on a tag or collar worn by, or which is otherwise carried by, the dog; (c) the date, time and place of the finding of the dog; and (d) the name and address of the finder.          (3)  Where the owner of the dog can be identified and can readily be contacted, the officer shall make reasonable attempts to contact him, and, if appropriate in the circumstances of the case, afford him forthwith a reasonable opportunity to collect the dog.     (4)  The officer shall make all such enquiries as he considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case to ascertain that the finder is a fit and proper person to keep the dog, and that he is able to feed and care for it.     (5)  The officer shall inform the finder both verbally and in writing that the finder is obliged under section 150(3) to keep the dog (if unclaimed by the owner) for not less than one month, and that failure to comply with that obligation is a criminal offence. Michael Heseltine Secretary of State for the Environment 17th February 1992 Ian Lang Secretary of State for Scotland 19th February 1992 David Hunt Secretary of State for Wales 17th February 1992 More useful information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/AnimalsAndPets/DG_175858