Once you’ve decided that you’d like to get a dog, there are different ways to go about finding the right one.

If you're looking to take on a new pet, animal adoption is a great way to find one. There are thousands of pets throughout the country who have either been abandoned or their owners do not have enough time to look after them properly, why not consider offering a home to one of them? These animals have a lot to give an owner, In return for offering them a second chance at life; you'll get a great companion, and they deserve a, friendly and loving home.

Adopting a dog.

Organisations that rehome all breeds of dogs, both cross-bred and pure-bred, are listed in our directory by region. Most of them have will have kennels or centres that can be visited, but at a few you may need an appointment.

Although the larger organisations are well known, there are also many smaller organisations, often operated on a very small budget but still doing a wonderful job. The best rescues will all offer ongoing advice after you adopt a dog from them.

Hundreds of contacts for breed-rescues are listed, each one specialising in a single breed of dog, these are listed alphabetically by breed. In many cases these rescues will not have dedicated kennels, so the dogs waiting to be rehomed may stay either in a foster home or be rehomed directly from the previous owner. Many breed-rescues are run in association with a breed club.

What sort of dog?

Each dog at a rescue centre will have been assessed to determine the type of home the dog will need.

It's important to choose a dog that will match your particular lifestyle. No dog should be left for more than a few hours; however an older dog might be slightly more tolerant. Young dogs usually require more attention and a puppy will need constant attention for feeding, toileting and training throughout the day.

Although a few puppies do require rehoming most dogs, most will be from six months upwards.

All dogs require the mental stimulation of exercise beyond their own home and you should be realistic about the amount you can provide. Lack of proper exercise can lead to behavioural problems. Larger dogs will not always require more exercise than smaller dogs, but they do need more space.

All dogs need regular grooming and some breeds may require regular professional attention that also needs to be budgeted for.

A dog will be your responsibility for many years to come and may live for 15 years or more. They should never be bought for children whose interests may quickly change as they grow up. Dogs should never be brought as Christmas presents.

So then what happens?

The aim of every dog-rescue and rehoming organisation is to find a loving home where the dog will remain for the rest of its life. Their homing procedure will usually involve a short questionnaire and most will arrange to visit you at home to verify your address and to advise on the suitability of fencing etc.

A good rehoming centre will try to ensure that your new dog is compatible with your children and any dogs or other pets you already have.

The costs of rehoming including kennelling and veterinary care are high and most organisations will ask for a contribution from you when adopting a dog. This will often include providing an ID chip, inoculation and neutering or a voucher for neutering.

If you need to rehome your own dog.

If for any reason you are unable to continue looking after your dog try to get advice as soon as possible. If rehoming is necessary you should contact one of the agencies listed and in most cases they will be able to offer more general advice if that's needed.

It's important to choose an organisation with a good reputation. You need to ensure that the one you choose has the necessary skill and experience to rehome successfully and that you understand their rehoming policies. You should know how and where your dog will be kept and what happens if the initial rehoming isn't successful.

If your dog has severe behavioural problems, it could be very difficult to rehome. A few organisations undertake never to destroy dogs even when it is not possible to rehome them. If this is the case you should satisfy yourself that they have the resources and facilities to care for a dog if they are unable to rehome it.