Are you considering bringing a dog into your life? Why buy a pup when there are already plenty of dogs looking for their forever home in rescues near you.

Choosing to rescue a dog rather than finding a breeder to buy a specific breed, means you have chosen to care for a dog that needs your love and desperately needs a home. Rescue centres have seen a rise in dogs being handed into their care since the living cost crisis was announced.

Why should I rescue? 

A second chance at life: 

By rescuing you are giving a dog that second chance of living the life it deserves. People don’t always realise the cost and responsibility of owning a dog and they end up in rescue centres due to no fault of their own. These dogs are eager to please and a lot would highly benefit from patience and training. We Love Pets have built a Learning Management System, Novabright, that provides online pet care courses. They have also gained charitable status for Boop a charity that provides free education to young people about animals.

Don’t support backyard breeders: 

Too many dogs are forced to breed and are kept in disgusting conditions on puppy farms, these dogs tend to contract a lot of diseases like canine parvovirus which is a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness. Puppy farms are illegal in the UK and all breeders should be licensed and sell no more than three litters of puppies within a year.

What’s the process of rescuing a dog? 

Most dog shelters tend to have the same adoption process, and it looks a little like this: 

• Visit a rescue or look through the dogs available for adoption on their website
• Submit an application for adoption 
• Go for an interview and meet the rescue dogs 
• If you pass the interview, majority of rescue centres like to have a look at your home and garden to make sure it’s dog appropriate and safe
• Once you have passed the home inspection, you can arrange a date to collect your new doggo. You may need to pay a adoption fee before bringing them home. 

How do I help settle in my rescue dog? 

When it comes to bringing your new doggo home, you want to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible and to make sure you let your dog take its time settling in.  

No humans allowed: 

One big help for the dog would be is it have a no humans allowed in the dogs bed or crate, whichever they feel safer in. To make ensure your pup can have its personal space and this must be respected. We’re sure family and friends will be eager to meet your new furry member of the family, but it is important to not allow visitors until your dog has settled and bonded with you.

It’s not a race: 

When it comes to settling your dog into their new home, it’s important that this process isn’t rushed in any manner since this could make the dog feel overwhelmed, let them take it in their own pace. 

A simple mistake commonly seen by new rescue owners is leaving the front door or back gate open before the dog has settled in it’s new home and they can dart out, so always remember and adjust yourself to having a new dog in the home.

A healthy routine: 

Creating a routine for your new dog can be very healthy for them and also soothing and reassuring. That means setting meal times as well as what time you walk them and when it’s bedtime.