Adoption/Fostering

Adoption/Fostering Policies and Procedures

All of our dogs at Monarch's Mutts will be Neutered/Spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, flead/wormed before the point of adoption, unless advised by a qualified vet due to medical reasons. We are a no kill rescue, unless a dog poses a serious risk to the public and put to sleep is advised by a qualified vet and behaviourist on behavioural grounds or by a qualified vet on medical grounds.

Fostering procedures

When a dog is handed to our Rescue by their legal owner, an owner release form must be be filled in and signed. Please remember that this is a legally binding document and as such the dog will become the property of the Rescue. As much paperwork as possible must be collected and a vaccination card/microchip if there is one. Bedding that smells of home,any toys/leads/collars are useful to help settle the dog.
If a dog is handed to us by a pound or other organisation, their paperwork or our owner release form if no other paperwork is available.
The dog must first be taken to a safe area, where there are no other pets or young children so that they can be assessed and observed so that an appropriate foster home can be identified if not already done so.
The dog will then go to to the appropriate foster home and must be supplied with everything they need, bedding, flea/worming treatment, food/toys, collar, lead,and ID tag.
A fostering guidelines form must be signed if not already done so.
Whilst in foster, the dog must wear a collar and ID tag at all times and walked, with a harness if necessary. They must be walked on a lead at all times, unless in a safe/secure area.
Dogs must be fed daily and have access to an outdoor area every day for toileting and excerise purposes. They must have constant access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Puppies and well assessed dogs may be placed in homes where there are otherpets and children under 5 years of age, this will only happen with people we know well, trust and have observed their safeguarding practice when interacting with with dogs, children and others over a number of years. This will be decided on a case by case basis by the team.
Foster carers resident pets must be neutered/spayed and vet treated as appropriate.

Adoption procedures

Dogs will be neutered/spayed, vaccinated, flead/wormed before the date of adoption unless this is possible as advised by a qualified vet due to age or health of the dog.
A bitch will never be adopted whilst in heat.
Long term medical conditions may be covered by us for life, depending on the severity and timing of diagnosis, this would be discussed and agreed with the team and potential owner.
If a person is interested in a dog they must call a memeber of the team, they will then go through a series of stages.

1. A member of the team will ask them a series of question over the phone to ascertain if they are the right home for the dog.

2. The potential owner can call the foster carer to get more information on the dog. Foster carers must be honest about the dogs character, feeding back the dogs strengths and any difficulties.

3. The potential owner must visit the dog in his/her foster home, leaving any young children and pets at home in the first instance, to avoid any disappointment.

4. If they are happy to proceed after meeting the dog, a home check will then be completed by a member of our team and the "Application to Adopt" form and checks completed. All resident family members must be present at the time of the home check to ensure they are in agrrement with the adoption and that the dog is not a surprise present.

5. Any relevant, careful introductions to children and other pets must be completed before adoption. In the case of introductions with resident dogs, this should be done on neutral territory (a walk) and then carefully into the house. It is always best to remove food, special treats, toys and bedding at first.

6. If all of the above goes smoothly and the potential owner is happy to proceed thay can adopt the dog and pay the adoption fee.

7. A longer home trial period can be arranged before adoption if there are resident children or other dogs which need to be taken into consideration.

8. The potential owner can loan, bedding, toys, collars etc, if necessary, these must be returned to our rescue on the follow up visit or sooner if possible.

9. 2-8 weeks after adoption a follow up visit must be completed. This can be by a member of the team or other trusted volunteer. If there are no concerns a "follow up" form completed and any bedding, collars etc collected.

10 . We offer lifetime back up, which means we will always take a dog back, owners must be made aware of this and all paperwork read and signed. No dog should be re-homed, surrender or put to sleep without contacting Monarch's Mutts first.