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Our simple steps to rehoming your new best friend.

There are three simple steps to rehoming your best new friend

REGISTER

Simply complete an application form from our adoption page for the animal you wish to adopt

MATCH

Our rehoming team will be in touch and if you are a match, they will arrange to introduce you to them.

REHOME

After a final medical check and all the advice you need, you’ll be able to take your new friend home with you.
 

Assisi's Rehoming Process

Our rehoming process is carefully tailored to each applicant, so please allow plenty of time. Our staff will always be on hand to discuss your individual requirements and answer any questions you may have during the process.

When adopting a dog you will be asked to visit a minimum of three times before your application is put forward to our home advisors. This allows you to get to know your new friend and gives you time to be sure that you have chosen the right dog for your family. Once you have completed your three visits your application will be passed to our home advisors. Only once your home visit has been completed and passed you will be able to take your new pet home. Our home visitors are all volunteers and carry out the visits in their spare time, so be patient, sometimes it can take a few days to get one arranged.

We ask that you put careful thought into what will be involved in caring for a dog and make sure that everyone in your household is ready for the responsibility.

 

Taking on a rescue dog is very rewarding, you are giving a dog a fresh start, a second chance in life, but it is hard work at times.

Bringing a new dog home from a Sanctuary isn’t just as simple as giving it ‘extra’ love and a comfy bed at night, it is much, much more than this. Rescue dogs can be challenging, quite often they have come from bad situations and are bringing their own baggage from past experiences into their new homes. Some dogs settle in to their new homes straight away while others take a bit longer, they may throw various behavioural problems at you and leave you at your wits end.

It is always better to expect the worst, this makes it easier to deal with the problems as they crop up. Ask for help too, you haven’t failed the dog if you have to ask for a bit of guidance.

Treat your new dog like he doesn’t know anything and begin as you mean to go on. Having a good routine is key as it helps increase the feeling of security and will allow the dog to settle in quicker. Don’t be harsh but boundaries do need to be set from the very start, it is much easier to relax the rules than to get tough when things get out of control. To start with keep the dog in just one or two rooms, preferably the room with access to the garden for toileting. Many dogs will not be house trained so being close to the garden will help with this training, most dogs catch on within a couple of days of reward based training.

Be aware of the ‘settling in period’ where the dog may appear to be very well behaved, it could be that it is unsure and is not yet confident enough to try and test the boundaries. After a few weeks you may see a change in the dog and it may begin to test the boundaries, not every dog will do this, but it is something to be aware of. With careful guidance those that test the boundaries should quickly settle down again.

During the first few weeks keep everything as low-key as possible, try not to fuss over the dog too much, don’t shower him with excessive attention and love and make sure any visitors do as you ask. If there is too much going on this can confuse the dog and put too much pressure on him which can lead to anxiety issues. The aim of keeping everything calm with a consistent routine is to make him feel comfortable with what is going on and develop greater emotional independence.

As your dog settles in over the coming weeks your bond will grow stronger as you experience new things together. Your dog will look to you for guidance and support, reassure him when he needs it and show him the right way. Overcome the problems as they crop up and enjoy the experience. The end result is very rewarding.

 
 

Additional Information

Further information about our rehoming process available here

There are a few things to think about when taking on a rescued dog:

Do not expect the dog to be grateful. They don’t understand that we have rescued them.

If your dog recently passed away don’t expect your new dog to behave in the same way your previous dog did. They are as individual as we are. It is usually best to go for a different sort of dog.

If you are having personal problems or are harbouring emotional issues for any reason don’t take on a dog who also has ‘baggage’. It will be no good for either of you and could make a difficult situation worse.

Be prepared to work hard. Research dog behaviour, look into training classes and local socialisation classes and have time set aside for attending these when you bring your new dog home.

1 Old Bangor Road,
Conlig, Newtownards BT23 7PU

[email protected]

028 9181 2622

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