FAQs

Our adoption process, also known as Meet&Match® is our pioneering method of helping you find the perfect pooch to meet your needs as well as the dogs. You can find out more about this process on our Meet&Match® page.

When adopting a dog (over 20 weeks old), we ask for an adoption fee of £385 for dogs over 20 weeks. When looking to adopt a puppy (up to 20 weeks old), this fee can vary and we discuss this with potential adopters upon successful application. This helps towards the cost of microchipping, vaccinating and caring for the dog.

If everyone involved has agreed you will be adopting a dog, congratulations, that’s wonderful news! Finalising an adoption is a joint process between you and Jerry Green Dog Rescue to make sure everything is in place to start your lives together. As part of this, we’ll ask you to:

• Sign and return the adoption contract (along with any other supporting documents)
• Transfer the dog’s microchip into your name
• Pay the agreed adoption fee

We’ll guide you through each step so you’ll be completely supported. This way, we can work together to make sure your new companion is officially and happily part of your family.

All of our available dogs are currently on our Meet Our Dogs page. We do welcome applications on specific dogs as we understand you may have the resources to offer a specific type of home which may meet some dogs needs. After carefully reading the profile of the dog you are interested in on his/her profile, you can then apply directly for that dog on that page.

If you require some assistance completing your application, please call us on 01652 657820 (Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm) or contact your local centre (Saturday & Sunday 8:30am-5pm).

We hope to be able to match as many suitable applicants with a dog as soon as possible. However, due to the unpredictability of rescue and rehoming, it’s not always possible to put a time frame on this. Therefore, we do not retain applications and encourage you to regularly check our site for updates on our dogs and apply where you think you may be able to offer the most suitable home.

Where possible, we will rehome dogs to homes with children and if this is possible, it will be stated on the dog’s profile. We do carefully assess each dog that enters into our care so please rest assured, if a dog is unsuitable to be rehomed to a home with children, there is an important reason for this.

Where possible, we will rehome dogs to homes with other animals and if this is possible, it will be stated on the dog’s profile. We do carefully assess each dog that enters into our care so please rest assured, if a dog is unsuitable to be rehomed to a home with other animals, there is an important reason for this.

It can take approximately 3 months for a dog to feel completely comfortable in their new home, but we are always here to support any dogs and owners who may have concerns. Please get back in touch with the centre you rehomed your dog from if you need support, guidance or advice.

Providing it is in the best interest of the dog’s needs and welfare, we will always take back a dog adopted from us. If you’re experiencing difficulties with your dog’s behaviour or the settling in period, we’d always recommend you contact your local centre in the first instance who may be able to offer support with this. We will listen without judgement and talk you through next steps.

Jerry Green Dog Rescue offers an emergency boarding scheme.  The scheme is there to help people who have fallen on sudden but short term challenges, which may mean they need somewhere safe to place their dog.  We aim to care for your dog for a short period of time, with the ultimate plan that you are reunited together.

Sadly, as we commonly do not have enough fosterers available, this is a kennel based service which sits alongside our normal dog boarding service.  Your dog would receive the same care and attention as our other boarding dogs. Should you be interested in becoming a fosterer for us to help with both the rescue dogs and dogs on our Emergency Boarding Scheme, then please contact volunteering@jerrygreendogs.org.uk for further information.

Anyone can fall on challenging times, so the best way to know if we can help is to contact your local centre directly, and we can have a chat with you about your individual circumstances to see if we can help.  Our Emergency Boarding Scheme is not a means tested service.

Although there is no direct fee for our Emergency Boarding service, where possible, as we are a Charity, we do try to recover our costs where we can. Each individual situation is discussed confidentially and we do welcome donations to support us with this, if it feasible to do so. However, we never want this to be a barrier to accessing a needed service and we would not turn away a dog and client in need if we have the space available.

Fostering one dog won’t change the world. But for that one dog, their world will change forever. Before applying, please check that you meet our requirements:

• You are 18 years old or over
• Access to transport for vet and centre appointments (where possible)

Find out more about our volunteer foster carer roles.

You will care for a dog in your own home providing a safe space for a dog as guided by your centre team. Each dog and situation is different so this could include getting a dog used to being in a home environment, continuing training as advised by the centre, or helping to continue the centre team’s assessment in a home environment. This should also include everything from feeding, walks, vest visits and play time.

We’ll give you as much information about the dog as we can and provide continued support, guidance and check-ins throughout the dog’s foster placement with you. All the costs of the dog will be covered by us whilst the dog is with you. We can provide you with all the bedding, equipment and food you will need and any further expenses would be reimbursed in line with our Volunteer Expenses Policy.

Whilst the dog is in foster care with you, we will continue to search for the perfect adoption match who will be invited to go through our Meet&Match® process with the dog.

Once a successful match is made, the dog would be returned to the care of Jerry Green Dog Rescue in readiness for heading home with their new owner(s). It’s unlikely that you will meet the new owner(s) but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you made a huge difference in that dog’s life.

If you are happy to continue your role as a volunteer foster carer, we will then make you available for the next lucky dog who may need your love and support.

We’ll do everything we can to help in an emergency and depending on the situation, we may be able to offer Emergency Boarding to prevent the need for you to rehome your dog. If this sounds like a suitable option, please complete our Emergency Boarding Enquiry Form and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Emergency Boarding may be a suitable solution for temporarily looking after your dog and this is assessed on a case by case basis, and dependent on availability in our kennels. Please complete our Emergency Boarding Enquiry Form and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

If you think you might have made the wrong decision, get in touch with us straight away. We can talk about why you wanted to rehome your dog in the first place and what’s changed. We’ll help you make the right decision for you and your dog.

We’ll always act in the best interests of the dog. If we think you are going to struggle to look after them, we’ll be honest with you, and we may not return your dog.

When you give your dog to us, you sign a legal document which makes us their official owner, and we take our legal duty of care to the dog very seriously. We always do our best to avoid this situation by talking this through with you in the initial assessment.

Once a dog has been adopted by a new family, there’s nothing we can do to get them back, as legal ownership of the dog has been transferred to the adopter.

We don’t have open kennels for viewing as this is not in the best interests of the dogs in our care. We also wouldn’t recommend visiting a dog once you have surrendered them. Seeing you could be very distressing and upsetting for you both. You are however welcome to get in touch with us to see how they’re doing.

Whilst your dog is in our care, you’re very welcome to get in touch with us to see how they’re doing.

However, once they have been adopted, unfortunately we won’t be able to provide updates or share the new owner(s) details. This is because of General Data Protection Regulation.

We are always very grateful for donations of:

• Sealed dog food and treats
• Blankets
• Dog beds and bedding
• Towels
• Toys
• Leads and harnesses
• General dog apparel

If you are able to drop them off at your nearest centre, our rescue dogs will be very grateful. Thank you so much for your generosity.

Should you have other items including larger items such as sofas or chairs, you wish to donate, this must be done by prior-arrangement, so please contact your nearest centre.

Find your nearest centre here.

All funds raised enable us to provide care to all of our dogs, as well as to support dogs and their families in our communities, wherever the need is greatest. We support hundreds of dogs each to find to find their new homes through our three rehoming centres, and our home from home adoption scheme, holistically meeting all of their physical, social and emotional needs, We provided the highest standards of welfare to all of our dogs and are committed to supporting them and their new families for their whole lives. Once a Jerry Green dog, always a Jerry Green dog.

We also work hard to keep families and their much loved pets together through hard times, where it is in the best interest of the dog. We do this through varied support, including but not limited to community dog walking, preventative veterinary treatment, provision of a stable nutritious diet, and emergency boarding services.

Yes, you can! We’re exceptionally grateful to our regular donors, this reliable, predictable income allows us to respond to the plight of dogs in need, without hesitation.

The impact of this support on those who need us cannot be understated. You can set up a monthly donation in moments here.

We are always very grateful for donations of:

• Ladies, gents & children’s clothing
• Shoes & handbags
• Books
• CDs/DVDs/Records
• Household items
• Bric-a-brac
• Toys & games
• Small electrical items

Don’t forget to Gift Aid your donations. We can claim an extra 25p on each £1 we make when we sell your donated goods. You can sign up in any of our shops, please just ask one of our lovely team members or volunteers.

Unfortunately, there are some donations we can’t accept which include the following:

• TV’s without scart sockets or remote controls
• Any item not complying with current trading standards
• Used roller skates & skateboards
• Used children’s car seats
• Used cycle/crash helmets
• Soft toys without a CE mark
• Pillows
• Ivory & bone goods
• Replica guns & knives
• Any items not of a saleable quality

Sadly, it costs us to dispose of non-recyclable and non-saleable items. Please help us by disposing of these items at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yes! As well as donated goods, we also stock a range of new goods and giftware including our own Jerry Green Dog Rescue merchandise and dog accessories.

Yes, you can shop our pre-loved goods online via our eBay store or you can visit our online shop to explore our range too. 

Yes! All of our shops have collection tins available should you wish to make a financial donation. Thank you for your generosity. Alternatively, you can call us on 01652 657820 to make this donation over the phone, or donate online here.

Yes, we have plenty of volunteering opportunities available. If you would like to help, please visit our volunteering page here.

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet new people, be part of a team and make a difference to hundreds of dogs at Jerry Green Dog Rescue.  By donating your time in one of our retail stores, supporting our centre staff, or our fundraising team you are directly helping the many dogs in our care.  Volunteering also has many physical and mental health benefits.

You can volunteer from age 16 onwards, however if you are 16 or 17 you must have the consent of your parent or guardian in order to apply. There is no upper age limit.

With parental assistance, children of any age can get involved with fundraising. This can be anything from bake sales to sponsored walks.

As a Jerry Green Dog Rescue volunteer, we can talk to you about what you can offer and hopefully fit around your schedule – any time you can give to us is hugely appreciated!

This is dependent on the volunteering role. Obviously, if you want to get ‘hands on’ with our dogs then previous experience would be an advantage.

If you have not got a work reference, a reference from another professional such as your GP would be acceptable.

Please do email volunteering@jerrygreendogs.org.uk if you are struggling with your references.

Yes, definitely. We can put you in touch with one of our lovely volunteers, who will talk you through the role.

If you’re nervous about volunteering on your own at all, we have some experienced volunteers who are happy to ‘buddy up’ with you, until you feel you have gained the confidence you need. Please discuss this with the centre where you wish to volunteer before you apply, so we can ensure we have got a ‘buddy’ available in that location.

If you want to volunteer together, we will do our best to accommodate your request. Generally, this should not be a problem.

We ask you to dress appropriately for the role you are undertaking. Sometimes the work is messy so you should dress accordingly. If you have been given a uniform, please wear it whenever you volunteer for us. If you prefer to wear your own clothes, please ensure that it does not have any slogans or images on it that may cause offence to others.

We have a thorough induction and training programme which will help you understand our Charity and the work that we do, as well as equipping you for the volunteer role you have chosen.  We offer many different forms of training – from hands on instructed work, to attending courses and completing online training.

Yes lots! From assisting us at fundraising events, educating the public, administration tasks or remote assistance to name but a few. If you want to volunteer we will try to find a role to suit you.

We are more than happy to help provide guidance and assistance around dogs with behavioural issues and would recommend you contact your nearest centre.

Yes, we will always help dogs and owners in need where we can. Please contact your local centre or our community team to discuss your situation and we will advise on what steps we can take to support. Please rest assured these conversations are completely confidential and we will always support and not judge.

We may be able to support you if you are struggling to exercise your dog due to your current situation. Please contact your local centre or our community team to see how we can help. If we’re not able to support directly, we may be able to signpost you elsewhere.

We do offer non-judgemental advice and one-off veterinary bill support which is assessed on a case by case basis. Please contact your local centre or our community team to discuss this further.

We are always here to help provide guidance and support to help improve the welfare of you and your dog. Please contact your local centre or our community team to discuss your needs further.

Jerry Green Dog Rescue offers an emergency boarding scheme. The scheme is there to help people who have fallen on sudden but short term challenges, which may mean they need somewhere safe to place their dog. We aim to care for your dog for a short period of time, with the ultimate plan that you are reunited together. Please visit our Emergency Boarding page for further information and to apply for the scheme.

To make sure all of the dogs in our boarding kennels are safe and happy, we don’t mix dogs from other households.

Your dog will enjoy a variety of physical exercise at least twice a day. This could be walks and off-lead time in our secure paddocks. We also provide mental enrichment to keep your dog’s mind busy. 

All dogs in our care need to wear suitable equipment so we can handle them safely. If your dog has any special requirements, please contact the centre to discuss your dog’s individual needs. 

Our centre teams are able to administer medication to dogs, however, there may be some circumstances where we can’t. Please reach out to your chosen centre directly to discuss your dogs’ medical needs before booking. 

To keep every dog safe, comfortable, and happy while in boarding, we ask that you bring a few essential documents in. These include vaccination records, contact details, veterinary waivers, information on what your dog likes and dislikes etc. When you confirm a booking with one of our centres, the team will be able to discuss in more detail the documentation you need to bring.

Our boarding kennels are situated on site at our rehoming centres, meaning our staff may cross over between sections during your dog’s stay. It’s important that we have all of the information noted down to better care for your dog. 

That’s absolutely fine! We offer taster sessions at all our sites to make sure our boarding dogs are comfortable and happy before coming for their stay. Your dog’s welfare is our top priority, so we will always be transparent on how your dog is coping.  

 Please contact your chosen centre directly to arrange a taster session. 

Please bring food and any medication if it has been arranged with the team. We will provide everything else, but please feel free to bring along their favourite bed or toy if it helps them feel comfortable – just let us know beforehand! 

Yes – we offer viewings of our boarding kennels on an appointment basis. Please contact your chosen centre to arrange a viewing. 

We don’t insist that boarding dogs have the kennel cough vaccine, however we require all dogs to be at least two weeks up to date with their standard vaccines.  

If your dog becomes unwell during their stay, we will contact either yourself or your nominated emergency contact to discuss our concerns and agree on a plan of action.  

We try to avoid having puppies (under 6 months old) in boarding as there are lots of noises and sounds that may frighten a puppy through its critical fear period of development.  If you need additional support, please contact your chosen centre to discuss with the team.

 If we can’t get hold of you in an urgent situation, we’ll use your emergency contact to make sure decisions are made quickly in your dog’s best interest.  

Depending on size and availability, we can accommodate up to three dogs in the same kennel. Please contact your chosen centre to discuss this further. 

Yes, that isn’t a problem as we have freezers on site. 

Yes, during working hours, our teams are happy to provide updates during your dog’s stay. We can discuss your preferred method of contact with you when you drop your dog off. 

Our standard drop-off and collection times are between 10am – 11am. If you need to pick your dog up late, this can be arranged for 2pm – 3pm at an additional charge. Please contact your chosen centre to discuss alternative collection times.  

We ask for a £25 deposit to be made upon booking, with the full payment due 2 weeks prior to your dog’s stay.  

 If you need to cancel your booking, please contact the centre as soon as possible. Our standard cancellation policy is as follows.  

 In the event of cancellations that are notified to us 14 days prior to the start of the booking, all fees less the deposit will be refunded or held for subsequent bookings. The deposit will only be refunded if the booking is cancelled at least 60 days in advance of the start date of the booking.