How much is the adoption donation?
We ask for a minimum adoption donation of £450 plus a (£60 training package for dogs adopted in Jersey) – If we decide that the minimum donation should be lower for a particular dog for any reason, you will be informed of this during the process. The minimum donation is otherwise not negotiable.
How can I tell which dogs are available to adopt?
Photographs of the dogs that are available to adopt are shown in the ‘Unreserved dogs coming to Jersey’ album on Facebook. You may, of course, make enquiries about a particular dog by telephone or e-mail, however, Facebook is currently the easiest way to view photographs of the dogs.
Do you rehome to families with children?
Yes, we will consider applications to adopt a dog from a family with children over the age of 6, providing the dog is suitable to live with children. We will discuss the suitability of the dog with you during your home check. If your child is under the age of 6 and have already grown up with a dog then we would also consider homing a dog in that instance provided the dog is suitable to live with children.
Do you rehome to families with cats or other dogs?
Yes, we will consider applications to adopt a dog from a family with other animals, providing both the dog and the families existing animals are suitable to be rehomed with other animals. We do not necessarily see the existence of another dog as a disadvantage and for some of our dogs, it is an advantage.
Do you rehome to older people?
Yes, we will consider applications to adopt a dog from an older person and for some dogs, a home with an older person may be more suitable for them.
Do you rehome to people in full time employment?
Whilst we do not automatically exclude full time workers, we prefer our dogs to be adopted to homes where they will not be left alone for long periods. Dogs are social animals and it is therefore important to us that they are not left alone for long periods of time, however, we will consider applications from people who work full time providing arrangements have been made to ensure that the dogs needs (including physical exercise, mental stimulation and companionship) are met.
We are open
to people using dog walkers in order to achieve dog ownership, however, we will
need to be satisfied that definite arrangements are in place and may wish to
discuss your circumstances directly with the dog walker.
Do you rehome to people living in a flat?
We will consider applications to adopt a dog to people living in a flat if the home is suitable for the dog and if the owner’s lifestyle can provide for the dog to be taken out very regularly. You will need to consider whether a dog will be acceptable to your neighbors and landlord, particularly if it is to be left alone.
Do you rehome to people without a garden?
It is preferable for dogs to be able to access outside space when it suits them, although we will consider homes without a garden providing we are comfortable that the owner is committed to giving the dog plenty of opportunities to go outside
How long is too long to leave a dog alone?
The amount of time that a dog is happy to be left alone depends somewhat on the dog, however, in general dogs should not be left alone on a regular basis for more than a few hours a day.
Do I have to have a home check and what does this entail?
Yes, everyone who applies to adopt a dog must have a home check. The home check is an opportunity for us to discuss the process, to answer all of your queries and to ensure that you understand what may be involved with owning a dog. Every dogs needs are different and it is therefore important that dogs are matched to families that can provide a suitable, safe, happy FOREVER homes that meet the needs the of a particular dog. We prefer to meet all members of the household during your home check.
Can I visit the dogs or meet them before I apply to adopt?
The dogs are generally adopted from shelters or kill stations in Spain before they arrive in Jersey and so it is not possible to meet them prior to adopting them. Dogs are mostly reserved and a donation fee paid up front to pay for the dogs transport in Jersey. If there is a problem with the dog once it arrives we will refund the adoption fee(or part) and rehome the dog.
Very, very occasionally, a dog that may go into foster care in Jersey before being adopted and when that happens, it may be possible for you to meet the dog beforehand, however, we will advise applicants who show an interest in the dog when they enquire.
I do not live in Jersey, can I adopt a dog?
We will consider applications from people who wish to adopt a dog from abroad providing we can find a way to undertake a home check you and become satisfied that you can offer a dog a suitable forever home. You may need to travel to collect your dog.
Can dogs be reserved?
If you have been home checked, we will be happy to reserve a dog for you, providing that we are in agreement that your home is suitable and the most suitable home offer that we have or are likely to receive for the dog. To reserve a dog, we will require payment of the adoption donation of at least £505 to include training package.. Should you change your mind about adopting the dog that you have reserved before the dog arrives, please note that we will only refund 50% of your adoption fee. The remainder will be retained by Company of Dogs.
What support is offered after I have adopted my dog?
Our remit is to facilitate the rescue of dogs by you. You are in fact the person rescuing your dog, not us. That said, we offer adopting family’s support should they require it and if for any reason there is a problem when you first meet your dog, we would urge you to seek our help and advice as soon as possible and we will work through that with you.
We are always on the other end of the phone should you need advice and we have the support of qualified and experienced trainers, animal behaviorists, veterinarians, dog trainers and other professionals should we need to call on it. We expect you to call upon our support if you need it and to be committed to working with us to keep your animal at home where it belongs.
Our contract provides that we may, at our discretion, conduct home visits and phone check-ins after you have adopted your dog in order to check on the dog’s welfare. This provides you with an opportunity to seek face-to-face advice on an ongoing basis.
What if, after adopting a dog, I decide that I cannot provide him / her with a suitable home?
If after working with us, agreement is reached that the dog needs a more suitable home, we will take the dog into foster care and find that home for you. Under the terms of our agreement, you are not permitted to rehome the dog yourself.
If that decision is made within the first two weeks of adopting your dog, we will refund half of the adoption donation if you wish us to do so. If this decision is made after the first two weeks, your adoption donation will not be refunded and we will retain the entire amount.
Where do I collect my dog from and what do I need to take with me?
After you have reserved a dog, we will advise you of the date that the dogs will arrive in Jersey. Whilst you may meet your dog when he / she first arrives in the island. We will let you know where, if you are likely to have limitations at home, we will find a foster to help you slowly introduce your dog and assess him on the Island.
About the dogs
Can you advise me of the breed and size of the dogs?
Unfortunately, we do not usually have information about the breed of the dog. Most of the dogs are crossbreeds and the best that we can do is guess. Similarly, we can guess the size of the dog from the photographs, however, we are occasionally surprised when the dogs arrive and we cannot anticipate how big any puppy may grow.
Can you tell me about the dog’s background?
We will tell you what we have been told about the dogs’ background, although very often, we have little or no background and cannot therefore give you information about their age, breed, health or temperament. Many of the dogs have been abandoned or found living on the streets in Spain and many have been rescued from the pound or kill shelters.
Where we are in receipt of information about the dogs nature or ability to live with cats or other animals, we will include this in our Album entitled ‘Unreserved Dogs Coming to Jersey’. If we have not given an opinion on these matters on our Facebook page, it is because we do not have the information. Most of our dogs have lived with other dogs in the pound and are therefore dog friendly. We are not usually in a position to comment on whether the dog is good on a lead or other general queries.
Are the dogs toilet trained?
Probably not. Dogs are rarely kept in the house in Spain and we therefore cannot guarantee that the dogs will be toilet trained. Most puppies will not be, although where a dog was once a pet, it is more likely that it will be clean in the house. Most animals prefer to be clean and with patience and plenty of opportunity for the dog to go outside, dogs can usually be toilet trained without difficulty.
Do the dogs have any ‘issues’?
The limited information that we have about a dog’s background can sometimes give some insight into challenges that a new owner may face. For example, a dog that has been used to living on the street may initially be timid or startled by everyday household noises and will need to learn to recall on the lead.
The most common issue that our adopted dogs face is separation anxiety which is why we prefer our dogs to be adopted to homes where they will not be left alone for long periods. Many of the dogs have come from noisy environments such as pounds and sanctuaries and in comparison, your home will seem very, very quiet. The dogs are used to this noise and used to having the company of people and other dogs. Many of the dogs have been abandoned before and when you leave they can worry about whether you are ever coming back.
Leads are not often used in rural Spain. Many of the dogs have therefore never worn a collar or been placed on a lead. The dogs are unlikely to be toilet trained and may not understand basic commands. Our contract requires you to enroll in obedience training with your dog. This is to ensure that you are well placed to deal with any of these matters and to ensure that you are using modern training techniques that are effective and do not have unwanted side effects!
We often find that people want puppies believing that they will have no issues. All dogs present challenges for their owner and even if you own a dog from a puppy, there is no guarantee that you will not inadvertently praise it at the wrong time or punish it inappropriately and cause issues of your own!
It is a common misconception that you cannot teach an ‘old dog’ new tricks and an old dog will love you just the same way that a puppy will and indeed those that know a previous life may well be more appreciative of their current situation! The message from us is that all dogs are extremely adaptable, given the right support.
Are the dogs healthy?
There are usually no obvious health conditions that we are aware of, or, where there are, we will inform you about them before you adopt the dog. We will of course pass on any information regarding the dogs health that we become aware of, however, we can not otherwise provide you with information about the health of any dog because we are not usually aware of their medical background.
We only adopt dogs from within Europe and all of the dogs are checked by a vet before they are allowed to travel under the pet passport scheme. The dogs are subject to a blood test for Leishmania, Ehrlichia and Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), Borrelia and Anaplasma before they are rehomed in Jersey. A general blood test which could identify liver and kidney functions is also undertaken. All dogs are vaccinated for rabies 21 days before they arrive in Jersey and all are micro chipped and have a valid European passport and have been wormed 24 hours prior to entry into Jersey.
Although it is possible for dogs to live with Leishmania with treatment, it is our policy not to rehome dogs with Leishmania in the island. Where a dog tests positive for Leishmania after we have rescued it from a kill station we look to rehome the dog in its country of origin.
Are the dogs neutered / spayed?
Most of the dogs have been neutered / spayed, unless they are puppy or under 5 months old. However, as part of our agreement with you, you are required to neuter the dog within 30 days of their adoption or as soon as the dog is old enough. This is an additional cost that you should factor into your decisions when you are deciding whether to adopt a home.
Providing you use our recommended veterinary practice to perform the neutering / spaying of your dog, you may be eligible to receive a 20% discount for the procedure.
Other Advice
Please remember that in Jersey, you are required by law to have certain of your details included on your dogs collar and you should apply for a dog’s license as soon as possible from your Parish Hall. At the time of writing, the cost of a dog license is £5.
f you do not already have one, you should register with a vet as soon as possible. Please note that we do not allow our adopters to use vetenary services provided by other rescue organisations such as the JSPCA. It is therefore important that you can provide for your dogs medical expenses and we therefore advise you to insure your pet as soon as possible. Whilst we cannot give you advice about which insurance plan to take, we would recommend that you obtain a ‘cover for life’ plan if you can afford to do so.
Volunteering for or donating to the Company of Dogs
How do I get involved with helping the Company of Dogs?
We can’t help dogs without your help! There are a number of ways in which you could help us depending on your experience.
Our volunteers undertake a variety of roles including but not limited to:
- Fostering
- Transporting
- Fundraising
- Undertaking home checks
- Dog assessments
- Follow up visits
- Offering Support training advice or support to our Adopters
Or, just generally raising awareness and helping out on the social side! For example, organizing dog walks or educational sessions. In short, all assistance is gratefully received!
Fundraising
Funding is a major issue for us as the costs of adopting dogs is often higher than the minimum donation that we request. If you would like to donate to us or set up a standing order us, you may do so using the following details:
Bank transfer
Account Name: The Company of Dogs
Account Number: 64976260
Lloyds TSB Offshore Limited
PO Box 10, 9 Broad Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE4 8NG
Sort Code: 30-94-61
IBAN: GB94LOYD30946164976260
Swift/Bic Code: LOYDJES1001
Paypal:
thecompanyofdogsjersey@gmail.com
By Cheque
Please make cheques payable to ‘The Company of Dogs’ and send to:
The Company of Dogs
Grasford
Faldouet
St Martin
Jersey
JE3 6UD
A home-check volunteer will contact you to arrange an informal visit. All of our helpers are volunteers so may not be able to visit you immediately however they will be in contact as soon as possible
Please note the following:
- We ask for an adoption donation of £510. – This covers
- Transport to Jersey
- Release from Kill Station or Sanctuary
- Foster and residence in Spain to transport
- TRACES paper work
- Passport
- Annual Vaccination – First one
- Blood test. for Leishmania, Ehrlichia and Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm), Borrelia and Anaplasmosis .
- Blood Screening
- Urea Screening
- Worming prior to leaving
- Ticks and fleas
- 4 introductory training lessons for all dogs (obligatory).
- Neutering or castration if over six months .
- Further reading in relation to Leishmania can be found here:
- We prefer to meet all members of the household during your home check. It is an opportunity for us to discuss the process, to answer all of your queries and to ensure that you understand what may be involved with owning a dog.
- Most of the dogs are cross breeds and very
often, we can only guess their age, size and breed. There are usually no
obvious health conditions that we are aware of, or, where there are, we will
inform you about them before you adopt the dog however, as we often have
little or no background, we cannot give you any guarantees about their health
or temperament or whether they are good with cats or children. Most of our dogs have lived with other
dogs in the pound and are therefore dog friendly.
- We prefer a flexible approach to selecting our adopters. For us, it is more about the life that you can offer a dog and your ability to give the dog a loving FOREVER home that meets all of the dogs needs including physical exercise, mental stimulation and companionship, rather than any set criteria. Whilst we do not automatically exclude full time workers, we prefer our dogs to be adopted to homes where they will not be left alone for long periods. We are open to people using dog walkers in order to achieve dog ownership, however, we will need to be satisfied that definite arrangements are in place and may wish to discuss your circumstances with the dog walker.
Should we offer you the opportunity to reserve a dog, we will ask you to sign a contract which provides, amongst other things that you must spay / neuter the dog, that you may not give away, sell or dispose of the dog (we will always take the dog back) and that the dog is taken to obedience training classes.