Adoption Process
Greyhound Gap not only prides itself on the due care given at time of homing but also its support service to adopters once their new hound arrives home.
Below is an outlay of how you can expect your enquiry to be dealt with...
All of Greyhound Gap's hounds receive a full assessment in one of our experienced foster homes before being allowed to move to a permanant home environment. The minimum assessment period with ourselves is at least two weeks living in a home environment.
Many people are prompted to ring Greyhound Gap each day as they have seen a specific dog on the internet in our care who they feel would be a good fit into their home and lifestyle. However, we feel it is necessary to point out that this is not always the case. To allow us to make an informed decission along with yourself the adopter we tend to go through the process without directly keeping a specific dog in mind.
First contact with us as a rescue will usually be via email or telephone conversation, this helps us to get a general basic feel for yourself and the home environment you have to offer a dog and allows you to get a better understanding of how we ourselves operate. Once discussions have taken place and under mutual agreement we will strive to arrange a homevisit for yourself and your family. Many people ask why we need to carry out these checks and they do benefit not only us as a rescue but you yourself as the adopter greatly, they help us to meet you, your family and any exisiting animals allowing us to make a more informed decission working together on the sort of hound that will suit your home. We find that this way works fabulously well, us already having a good knowledge of the dogs in our care means that in most cases you get the best possible fit making the transition period for you and the dog as easy and stress free as is possible. Our return rate is currently less than 3% so is proven and is working.
Once the homevisit is carried out we will then discuss possible hounds in our care that may suit your environment and lifestyle, you will then be offered the option to talk at length with the dogs foster career before making an informed decission as to whether you would like to progress towards meeting the suitable dog. Although we home nationally we do ask that in every instance possible you are willing to travel to meet the dog itself before the rehoming is undertaken. Although sometimes it can sound like a long journey this dog is going to be a part of your family for a long time and its necessary to make sure that as much work is placed into the adoption process again to make it easier for both of you to get home and carry on with your settling in.
What you can expect from us as a rescue....
A full and truthful account of the dogs behaviour and needs from the time of entering our care. Foster careers are also versed in talking at length about the dogs in their cares needs and will at all times give as honest account as possible.
To our knowledge at the time of homing the dog will be in the best of health possible. Dogs will be vaccinated, some kennel cough vaccinated, de flead, wormed, microchipped and also neutered/spayed before rehoming (except puppies who will be under contract for neutering at relevant age) If dogs have other health needs such as dentals or other visible illness on arrival this will be treated before rehoming. Any ongoing health needs will be explained to you fully before commiting to a dog often with rescue ongoing support.
On hand support 24/7 should it be needed during the initial settling in period and full rescue support for yourself during the duration of the dogs life. If at anytime the dog cannot remain in the home you will be expected to return the dog to our care. At the time of adoption you will be given at least two numbers you can contact for help support and advice. During the first two week period it is commonplace for a volunteer to contact you at least once every other day to offer support and advice should any problems occur. We are all experienced in the homing process and often any teething problems can be settled down almost instantaneously. Yes, we are busy BUT you are not mythering us, if we dont know there is a problem we cannot help.
What we expect from you the adopter...
Before comitting to a rescue dog we expect the whole of the family to be 100 per cent sure. So many people want to adopt a dog and one member of the family is definatly sure and others arnt. Sadly it rarely works, everyone needs to be sure that this is the right time for a new family member to be introduced.
100 per cent honesty. Yes, suprisingly many people do try to pull the wool over our eyes. Children are taken out of the equation so are other pets, work situations and time periods left arnt stipulated truthfully. This is silly and doesnt benefit anyone least of all yourself or the dog. We work so hard to try to find the right dog for the environment and without the full truth that makes our job impossible, problems could then arise which werent envisaged simply because the dog is being expected to do more than its capable of.
Dedication and the attitude that the adoption WILL work. So many people look to add a dog to their home environment but want perfect ready made dog. This doesnt happen all the time, most of the time the transition period runs perfectly smooth by us working together, little issues are usually settled down in a very short period of time. However, if people do not go into the adoption process with open eyes and realise there is a transition period then things get alot more complicated. When commiting to a dog with full support of a good rescue please be aware that with a little time patience and love in 99% of cases you have a new friend for life.
It is also more than worth noting, if once the home vetting has been carried out we feel at the time we do not have a suitable dog we will be totally honest. We pride ourselves on the matching process and would not be willing to just farm any dog into a home environment for the sake of numbers. People with more specific needs ie full time workers, families with young children and cats may have to wait longer. When we do find the right dog for you it will be as near to as perfect a match as could be met. Although this could at times take a couple of months there should be no rush, yours and our main priority should be keeping everyone safe and happy including children and feline friends.