Frequently Asked Questions

We try and ensure that our website and Facebook page is as up to date as possible. At any given time, we have dogs and cats who we have not yet promoted, so feel free to make a general enquiry. In each case we will do our best to provide you with as much information as possible, so that you can make an informed decision. 

We have a simple and through rehoming process. Whenever you rehome an animal with Helping Dogs and Cats UK, we will be there to guide and support you every step of the way. 

Complete an Application Form

You can start the process here 

Before we can match you with a dog or cat, you will need to register your details and answer a few questions related to your current living circumstances as well as your preferences. Our team will then use their rehoming experience to match you with your perfect pet, which is why we encourage you to not apply for a specific animal as, chances are, we might be able to find you an even more suitable.

The form should take no more than 15 minutes and will help us find a dog or cat that is right for you. If you are unable to complete the online form, send an email to enquiries@helpingdogsandcatsuk.org to request the registration form in an alternative format.

Whether you are looking to foster or adopt please see our criteria below:

For Dogs

· We do not home to flats above ground level.

· We do not home with children under 8 years of age.

· You will require a minimum 5ft height secure  fence/wall.

For Cats

 · We do not home on main roads or close to railway lines.

· We do not home with children under 5 years of age.

We'll be in touch

After registering, you will receive an automated response. Making good matches between people and pets is the most important thing to us, but it can take time. 

Speak with the Team

When we think there is a good match, we will contact you to arrange a call. A member of our rehoming team (a volunteer) will get in touch to chat about a few more details.

Rehome 

If we feel it is a good match and you are happy to proceed, an in-person home check with be organised, A home check fee of £10 (non-refundable) will be charged at this time.

If you pass the home check, we will then arrange a visit for you to meet your potential new dog or cat in its foster home. For those adopting a dog, we ask for a minimum of three visits, including taking your own dogs to meet your potential new arrival, and any other family members. For cats we ask for one visit before making a decision.

Next step is to pay the adoption fee and sign and return our terms of agreement. The fourth visit will be to collect the dog or in some cases the dog will be delivered directly to you at home.

This is where your new friendship begins! We know that rehoming a pet is an exciting and emotional experience, so we will continue to give you plenty of expert advice and support to help your new pet settle in.

We charge a home check fee of £10.00 (non-refundable). 

Dogs – Our rehoming fee is £430 for dogs. We include a £100 voucher towards the cost of spaying/neutering if the animal is too young or has not been spayed or neutered for any other reason.

Cats – Our rehoming fee is £245 for cats (up to 7 years), £160 (7-12 years) and £100 (if over 12 years). We include a £30 voucher towards the cost of spaying/neutering if the animal is too young or has not been spayed or neutered for any other reason.

To secure your new pet’s adoption we require a £50 deposit/holding fee for cats and £100 deposit/holding fee for dogs.

Included in these costs are the following:

· Microchipping

· Initial vaccinations, flea, and worming treatment

· Neutering/Spaying *see above 

· Five weeks’ free Agria insurance as your dog settles into their new surroundings.

· Lifetime support and full Rescue Back Up

Something to bear in mind is that our rehoming fee is just the beginning of the costs involved with owning a dog or cat. We would recommend that before making the decision to rehome, you investigate the costs of pet food, pet insurance, grooming and fees at your local veterinary centre so that you are fully prepared for the financial implications of bringing a new pet into your home.

All our animals are microchipped. On adoption we will update the microchip with your contact information.

The team works hard to ensure that our dogs go into the right homes and vice versa that you are happy with the adoption. We understand that sometimes things do not work out, people’s circumstances change, or you may feel that you are not coping or having issues with your puppy or dog, cat or kitten in these rare instances, the rescue will do their best to support. 

Please note 'your obligations' as per our contract of adoption.

To Notify Helping Dogs and Cats UK immediately if you can no longer care for or keep the adopted animal. You agree to give Helping Dogs and Cats UK reasonable time to rehome or place the adopted animal in an approved foster home, where available. You acknowledge that this may be a minimum of one month and will depend on the reason the adopted animal requires rehoming. You agree to pay kennel fees where Helping Dogs and Cats UK is unable to accommodate the adopted animal. You agree to allow Helping Dogs and Cats UK to rehome the adopted animal from your home where possible. Helping Dogs and Cats UK will home check the new potential adopter. You agree you will keep that adopted animal till we have assessed the animal if necessary and found a new home. Helping Dogs and Cats UK will change the chip over and advertise the animal but will charge the new adopter a new adoption fee to cover the costs within Helping Dogs and Cats UK.  

One of our biggest challenges aside from fundraising, is finding foster homes. As fast as we can rehome, there are more animals waiting to come in.

We are always desperate for more foster carers and welcome applications from cat and dog loving people in Basingstoke and surrounding areas. 

Becoming a foster carer means you are providing invaluable support in caring for a lost, abandoned, or unwanted animal by preparing them for their new home. You will care for all the animals needs including feeding, grooming, and socialising. Fostering an animal in your own home also gives us a valuable opportunity to see how they behave in a domestic environment so we can find them the right new homes.

 Our small team is staffed by volunteers, who are true animal lovers and passionate about animal welfare. We receive no government funding and depend entirely on the generosity of our supporters. Every penny we receive goes directly to helping dogs and cats. https://helpingdogsandcatsuk.org/donate

With the cost-of-living crisis the rescue has set up food bank for dogs and cats supporting individuals and families who maybe struggling to cover the cost of looking after their pets.  

If you need our help or would like to donate, we welcome items at our community shop at: Hart House, Priestley Rd, Basingstoke RG24 9PU. 

Pop in and see what bargains can be found in our community shop. All money raised goes straight back into the rescue. We are grateful for any donate of unwanted items that we can sell.  Donations can be dropped off at: Hart House, Priestley Rd, Basingstoke RG24 9PU. 

We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help staff our community shop, fundraise, foster or support with admin or our socials.  do you have an hour or so spare a week, then we'd love to hear from you.   If you have an hour or so spare a week, then we'd love to hear from you.

All the team are passionate about animal rescue and welfare. Many have first-hand experience of owning a rescue dog and cat. 

Whether you have chosen to foster a dog or cat for us or have decide to adopt, we will assign you a ‘mentor’ and add you to a ‘chat group’.

You mentor will be on hand to offer:

· Provide support and advice, in advance of your new arrival, 

· and after they have arrived

· Will ask you to collate and send over important information as required

· Will Share important messages and updates with you

· Signpost you to a member of the behaviour team if required

· Introduce you to other foster carers, adopters so that you can share stories, updates, swap photos, and support each other.