Homestay
Keep caring for your dog while we find them a new home.
The decision to give up a dog is always difficult. If you’re in this heartbreaking situation, we’re here to help however we can.
We want to support as many struggling owners and dogs as possible, but our kennel space is limited, and they’re often needed urgently by dogs who have nowhere else to go. So, we’ve created Homestay – a different way of rehoming that means we can help rehome your dog straight away, without having to wait for a kennel to become available.
By choosing Homestay, you are helping your dog and helping us support even more dogs who need our help.
How does Homestay work?
Through Homestay, we ask those who can, to keep caring for their dog until we find them a new home. When we’ve found the right home, we move the dog directly from their previous home to their new one, so they don’t have to spend any time in kennels.
We will try to find a new home for a dog on Homestay within eight weeks although this can vary from a few days to several months. If we can’t find a home for your dog while they’re on Homestay we will explore other options such as extending the Homestay agreement or bringing them into our care when a kennel becomes available.
Is Homestay the right thing for you and your dog?
Homestay could work for you if:
- You can continue caring for your dog at home
- You can take your dog to the vet for any support they need
- You can bring your dog to the rehoming centre to meet potential adopters.
Unfortunately, we can't accept dogs who are on the exemption register, or who are in the process of being exempted.
The Homestay process
Get in touch
Contact our team by completing our online process or giving us a call. Find out what to expect when you get in touch.
Assessment
If we feel Homestay is suitable for your dog, we’ll ask you to bring them to our rehoming centre for an assessment.
Agreement
If we mutually agree Homestay is the right option, we’ll begin the initial eight-week Homestay agreement. We’ll start looking for your dog’s new home straight away and keep you informed about our progress.
Next steps
If we don’t find the right home for your dog in this time, we will discuss next steps with you. This could be either extending our Homestay agreement or bringing them into our care when a kennel becomes available.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you can’t find my dog a home?
If we haven’t found a home after the initial eight-week agreement ends, we have a few options. This could be extending the agreement or bringing your dog into our care. If we feel your dog will struggle in kennels, we’ll talk this through with you too.
Who is legally and financially responsible for my dog while they are on Homestay?
You will remain legally and financially responsible for your dog during the Homestay agreement. You will only be asked to sign over legal responsibility once they find their forever home, or a suitable kennel becomes available. We ask you to continue to support your dog with anything they need such as food, toys and vet visits, while they are on Homestay.
Can I meet the new adopter?
To respect everyone’s privacy and adhere to data protection regulations, you will not be able to meet the new adopter. We can also not give you any personal details about your dog’s new home.
What if I change my mind?
We understand that giving up a dog is a very emotional experience. We ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you change your mind.
Why is Homestay necessary?
We currently receive around 3,000 enquiries a month from people needing to give up their dog. Homestay allows us to help more dogs more quickly, and it helps protect our limited kennel space for dogs who need urgent or immediate care.
By choosing Homestay, you are helping your dog and helping us support even more dogs in crisis.
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