Adoption Information

A home check is required before a dog is adopted. The adoption fee for dogs can vary and is a minimum of £100.
You can complete our adoption enquiry form here.

Dogs can be taken for a trial period of two weeks before adoption. You can meet our dogs at the kennels and take them for a walk before you decide to take a dog on trial. While dogs are out on trial they remain under the ownership of the charity. If the trial is not successful, we will take the dog back and the adoption fee will be refunded.

Our dogs are vaccinated before they are rehomed and the charity will either arrange for neutering or provide a voucher for the new owner to have the dog neutered at a later date if the dog is still too young for the procedure.

Our Adoption Agreement terms for dogs are below: I agree:

• under no circumstances to part with my pet except to return it to Animal Krackers if, for whatever reason, we are unable to keep it.
• To ensure the animal receives qualified veterinary care and treatment.
• To acknowledge and accept that Animal Krackers retain the right to reclaim the animal, at their discretion, if they consider it is being kept in any way that they deem to be unacceptable.
• To ensure that the dog is neutered (if this has not already been undertaken).
• To consider seriously the advantages of taking out an insurance policy.
• That any fees donations or veterinary costs cannot be refunded if the animal is returned.
• To take particular care that children treat animals with respect and care. In particular, that children do not hug animals, pull their tails or generally handle them inappropriately.
• That it is recognised that Animal Krackers can only assess animals on the basis of information communicated by past owners, foster carers and staff at the kennels. (thus, Animal Krackers cannot always assess animals in a domestic situation; they cannot always predict how animals will behave in a new home.)
• That Animal Krackers take every care to match animals with adopters. In the event that an injury is sustained through biting or scratching by the adopted animal, responsibility does not lie with Animal Krackers or its volunteers
• That adopted dogs are microchipped by Animal Krackers and that an identification disk is fitted to dogs.
• That dogs adopted should be exercised regularly and not denied companionship for a period of time.

As with dogs, a home check will be required before a cat is adopted. We ask for a donation of £100 for a kitten or adult cat.  You can complete an adoption enquiry form here.

All our adult cats have been neutered/spayed, given flea and worm treatment and vaccinated.  They’ll also be microchipped.  Kittens will leave us with their first year vacs covered by the charity and a voucher to cover the cost of neutering too (small fee payable for pain relief), and their microchipping can be done at the time of neutering, registered to the new owner (for a small charge).

If, for whatever reason, a cat has to be returned we will always accept them but it may not be possible straight away due to lack of spaces.  We are always willing to help with any problems or queries.  Our aim is a happy owner with a happy cat.

We hope you and your new pet will have many happy years together. The following is just a brief list of suggestions to help him/her settle in as easily as possible.

• • A new home is a strange place for cats and they may need some time to settle in. Giving the new arrival a room of its own (such as a spare bedroom) to settle in for a few days first is a good idea. Try not to be tempted to force contact or attention on the cat – let him come to you in his own time! Any introductions to other pets should be done slowly and gradually.

• • On arrival, let the cat out in the place where he’ll be fed and where the litter tray is. Have some food ready. Make sure the house is secure so the cat can’t get out (e.g. close the doors/windows). Cats can also get into the smallest spaces (e.g. under floorboards) so block off any dangerous hiding places!

• • Cats can be fussy eaters so it’s often a matter of trial and error finding out what they like. As to quantity, we suggest 2 sachets of moist food a day, supplemented by dried food for snacking. Always have a bowl of water available and change it at least once a day.

• • Always keep the cat in the house for at least the first four weeks before allowing any outdoor access.

• • All our cats have been checked by a vet, vaccinated and neutered. They will recently have received flea and worm treatment. As far as we know they are in good health and if they have had any problems while in our care they will have received veterinary treatment for it. But in many cases we are dependent on what we have been told by their previous owners (if known).

• • It’s a good idea to register your new cat with your vet – we recommend Vets4Pets at Broadway (0191 5252090) or Fulwell  (phone 0191 5487200) who run a great value vaccinations for life scheme.

• • There is no NHS for pets and we recommend you take out pet insurance so that you aren’t faced with any difficult decisions should the worst happen.

• • Cats will be micro-chipped, if they aren’t already.  The microchip details will be logged to the Charity.

• • Cat toys and cat play furniture are all useful things to have as long as you realise that the cat may completely ignore them, just as they may ignore the lovely expensive cat bed you bought in favour of the cardboard box in the corner.  Do have at least one reasonably sized scratching post.  Cat tunnels are great fun for them too.

Once you’ve taken the cat home they are yours.  However if you ever need help or advice, we are just a email, message or phone call away, or if you’d just like to tell us how happy you all are.  We like that.

If, for whatever reason, you decide at some point you can’t keep the cat, please let us know and we’ll take it back – places are rarely available immediately, so please be patient.