REHOMING YOUR DOG THROUGH LABRADOR WELFARE At Labrador Welfare, we understand that life can change and may leave you faced with a decision as to how best to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of your Labrador. The decision to rehome your Labrador is yours alone. We know you will not take it lightly and will have explored every alternative before approaching us to help with rehoming your much-loved pet. Labrador Welfare are not here to judge your reasons for parting with your dog - but we are here to work with you to put your dog’s welfare and needs first and see that these continue to be met in the kind of home you would wish for them. If you are seriously considering rehoming your Labrador please take a moment to read the information below that will answer some of the questions that you may have. If you would then like to talk to us about how we can help, please do contact us. What will happen once I have made the decision to rehome my Labrador? We appreciate that the decision to place your Labrador for adoption or life-time fostering with Labrador Welfare may be a particularly difficult and emotional one which is why our Relinquishing Team will support you through the early days following your decision to entrust us with the care and rehoming of your dog. In the first instance, our Relinquishing Co-ordinator will contact you to outline the way we work and to invite you to tell us as much as possible about your Labrador and its needs. As well as all the good things you will want us to know about, we appreciate that your dog may perhaps have some quirky traits or challenging characteristics and we will need you to be open and tell us about those too so that we can find the best home possible to suit the needs of your dog. We would ask that owners whose dogs have significant behavioural issues arrange to have their pet checked by their own vet and, where necessary, assessed by a qualified behaviourist who can provide us with a written report in order that we can establish – before the dog leaves its current home - whether we are best placed to assist with rehoming. We regret that we are unable to assist dogs that have displayed vicious tendencies and/or who have a significant bite history and would strongly advise you to seek the help of a vet/qualified behaviourist in these instances. Nothing will happen until you are absolutely sure that you wish us to help with rehoming your dog. Remember, the decision is yours to make. It is only when you are certain of your decision and have informed us that you wish to go ahead that we will make preparatory arrangements with you for your dog to be received into our care at the boarding kennels that we use. How will my dog be cared for whilst awaiting rehoming? We understand that you may feel daunted at placing your dog in kennels - possibly for the first time - and we hope it will help you to know that all dogs coming to us for rehoming are well cared for by experienced and knowledgeable staff in facilities that meet the high standards of animal welfare set at national level and ensure dogs receive the very best of care. You can therefore be reassured that your dog will have the benefit of: - An individual, heated kennel and run - Regular exercise - Enrichment toys/activities - Veterinary assessment and treatment where necessary - A safe and secure environment Our Rehoming Team will work to ensure that your dog’s stay in kennels is as short as possible but this will necessarily involve a period of settling and adjustment so that a measured behavioural assessment can be undertaken. We will encourage you to bring your dog into kennels yourself - not necessarily because we are unable to offer a guaranteed collection service to suit your immediate needs but primarily because experience has shown us that your dog will find it less stressful to be in your company on the journey and you may also find it reassuring to know where and by whom your pet is going to be cared for whilst they await rehoming. What will I need to bring with me to kennels? Please do bring any of the dog’s possessions such as their bed/bedding, collar and lead or harness, any favourite toys and food that you are able to as these will be things that your dog is familiar with and will therefore be of help to them during their stay. You will also need to bring: - Proof of ownership of the dog in the form of microchip documentation which should show that the microchip is registered   in your name. - The current vaccination card showing that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. We ask that you contact your vet before you bring your dog into kennels to let them know that we will be helping to rehome your dog. We also ask that you provide your vet with your permission for us to receive your dog’s full medical history in order that we can ensure treatment is continued for any ongoing health conditions. Do I need to pay anything? As a small, registered charity manned wholly by unpaid volunteers, we are entirely reliant on donations to be able to continue our work to help Labradors who need them find new homes. This is why you may be asked to make an affordable donation to help us fund the first week’s kennelling costs for your dog. Further kennelling or other costs that may arise during your dog’s stay whilst we work to find the best home for them, will be met by the charity. Do I need to sign anything? Yes. When you leave your dog at the kennels, you will be asked to read and sign a relinquishing form. PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING THE FORM as in doing so, you are not only relinquishing ownership of your dog to Labrador Welfare but you are also making a signed declaration that the dog has no adverse behavioural tendencies and is safe to be rehomed by Labrador Welfare. How long will it take to rehome my dog? Our Rehoming Team will work to ensure that your dog’s stay in kennels is as short as possible. However, the length of time it can take to rehome a dog can vary and is dependent upon a variety of factors. For example, although it may be possible for us to find the right home in as little as 1 to 2 weeks, rehoming can be delayed for up to 4 weeks or sometimes longer if your Labrador arrives in our care without being neutered or spayed or requires any other veterinary treatment to be undertaken prior to rehoming. Can I be assured my dog will go to a good home? Yes, you can. While our primary duty of care rests with the welfare and future wellbeing of your dog, we also have a duty of care to you and the trust you place in us when you ask us to help you and your dog. You can be assured that our Rehoming Team will undertake careful matching and home check processes to ensure your dog is placed in the kind of home that you would wish for it. The team will also undertake initial follow-up once your dog has been rehomed and Labrador Welfare will provide back up support for the rest of your dog’s natural life. We understand you may wish to contact us to find out how your dog is. If you do choose to contact us, we will gladly update you while your dog remains in our care to give you peace of mind that your dog is happy and looking forward to settling into its new home. It is our firm policy not to destroy any dog for the want of a home, except on the advice of a veterinary surgeon.