Frequently Asked Questions
Do you adopt to homes outside of Auckland?
ABSOLUTELY! Perfect homes can be anywhere. As long as you follow all of the adoption criteria, we are happy to consider a home anywhere in New Zealand. We have had some hugely successful adoptions in the South Island.
You will need to attend a meet & greet in Auckland with your family and existing dogs.
NB: We are not doing South Island adoptions until the entire country is at Level 2 for longer than 8 weeks, or is at Level 1.
Not sure which dog you want to adopt?
Keep an eye on our Facebook and Website and apply when you see what dog you think you'd like to adopt. Make sure you read their profiles to understand the kind of home they need to save disappointment.
My property isn't fully fenced. Can I still adopt?
If you are living on a farm, or similar, you will need to be able to provide information about how you can contain the dog and keep him/her safe. If we are satisfied that you can do so, we will still consider you for adoption.
What if the trial doesn't work out? Can I adopt another dog?
Although we do try and match you to the right dog the first time, sometimes it doesn't work out, so we are may look at another dog and see how they fit in with your family.
How much is the adoption fee and when do I pay this?
Our standard adoption fee is $350 which covers microchipping inc registration on NZCAR, full vaccinations, desexing and council registration costs(current year up to 30 June only). This also covers any other treatments they've had as well.
NB: If a trial is ended within 1 calendar month of the dog going on trial we will refund your adoption fee minus $100 which covers costs and support the dog moving back into foster care. After 1 month there is no refund available - We will take the dog back however.
The dogs profile says no cats/young kids or an only dog home, is this negotiable?
In order for our dogs to reach their full potential, we ask that you please respect the fact that our team and trainers have agreed that a home without cats or young children, or as an only dog, would be best for them. We have invested countless hours into getting to know each pup and want to ensure they are given every opportunity to succeed.
Can I ask to meet all the dogs I select?
We are unable to have Meet and Greets on demand. Our dogs are all in foster care with families who have other commitments so we do not expect them to be on call all the time, and we set up meet and greets at scheduled times so they are able to work around this.
Some dogs receive huge amounts of applications (Some over 30) so we do not have the capacity to let everyone meet each dog, and shortlist to the homes most appropriate for the dog for our meet and greets.
What if I've already applied? Do I need to apply again?
If you've applied in the last 6 months and none of your information has changed you don't need to fill out a new application. All you need to do is email adoptions@chaineddog.org.nz and let them know what dog you are interested in.
How long does your adoption process take?
This varies dependant on the dog. If the dog needs a little more time to settle with the foster home, which can be to do with training, medical or something else, the process can take a little longer.
If the dog is ready to go we will arrange a meet and greet for any home that looks to be appropriate from the applications. This will generally take place on a weekend, and may involve the dog meeting more than one family. We have to ensure we work in with our foster home, so they are available to bring their foster dog along. Once this is completed and the appropriate home chosen we will need to complete the home check, which we aim to do in the week following the meet and greet.
Once the meet and greet is finished and a home is chosen the dog will generally go on trial within 7-14 days, dependant on availability of the potential adopters, although quite often we can do a lot faster if our team have time!
We do not rush our process, as it is imperative we select the right home for the dog, however we do it as fast as time, and everyones schedules, will allow!
What if I'm not shortlisted for the dog I like, am I bad owner?
Don't panic! This does not mean you are a bad dog owner at all. All of our dogs have specific requirements so we match new owners best able to provide this.
Sometimes the first dog you want doesn't work out, but please contact us if you see another. We love placing dogs in happy homes!
I have an existing dog with behavioural issues, can I still adopt?
If you have a dog that is reactive, fearful, anxious, or displays other concerning behaviours, we strongly suggest that you seek behavioural help before attempt to adopt another dog. It is not only unfair on your own dog, but it is unfair on our dogs for adoption as well. Getting a second dog does not "fix" another dogs behaviour, only training can do this.
We will not adopt our dogs out into an unsafe environment.
We are happy to point you in the right direction of a good trainer if needed.
I'm elderly, can I still adopt?
Yes. If you are able to give a loving home to one of our dogs, we would welcome your application. However, before applying, please consider the age of the dog and how long you may be able to provide care. Depending on the breed, small dogs can live for up to 20 years or more – so please make sure that you are willing and able to provide for them during this entire period.
Can I adopt a dog as a gift?
No. Dogs are not gifts. We need to ensure that anyone who adopts our dogs is able to take care of the dogs physical, mental and financial needs.
If you are looking for a gift we can suggest THESE
I live in an apartment, can I adopt?
Yes you can, but not every dog will suit apartment living. We will advise if this is the case when you apply.
Want to know more about how adoptions work?
Thank you for considering adoption! We have some amazing dogs, and are excited to see them in new forever homes.
Firstly we require you to fill out our Adoption Application Form. This application has been thought through really carefully so that we can get enough information to understand the home you are offering, and best match you to the right dog. It is vital this is filled out accurately and with as much information as possible to ensure a good chance of being successful.
Once you have filled in your Adoption Application Form, our team will assess this and ensure the dog is right for your home. If not, we will reply and advise this and we may also seek to clarify other aspects of your application as well.
When the dog is ready we will shortlist to the 3-4 homes most appropriate for the dog, and invite them to a meet and greet.
At the meet and greet we need you to bring along all members of your family, including any other dogs, with you. This is to ensure everyone loves the dog, and that he/she loves all of you too! NB: These meet and greets will be held in Auckland, so please be aware of this when you apply.
If you love the dog as much as we hope you do and our team feel it's a good fit we will then arrange a property inspection. When doing a property inspection we take the following into consideration;
There must be a sufficient amount of grassed area for dog to toilet on
Section must be fully fenced and have no gaps/holes for dogs of any size to fit through and be of a suitable height. Please see FAQ's above for info on unfenced properties.
There must be somewhere for a dog to seek good shelter from the elements if outside during the day, although most of our dogs are fine inside and crated.
Somewhere warm and safe for dog to sleep inside at night, preferably crated.
The property must be owned by those seeking to adopt a pet from CDRRNZ, unless under exceptional circumstances. If you are renting we will require a rental agreement from your landlord stating you are allowed to have a dog.
So you pass the property inspection with flying colours, and want to know what’s next? Good news, you can now take your dog home on a trial! We always suggest a trial, as it’s good to have a dog in your home environment to ensure they fit in, and work with your lifestyle and family. This trial is usually a couple of weeks, as it gives the dog, and yourselves, time to adapt and deal with the big and exciting changes in your life. Once the paperwork is signed and adoption fee paid you are set to take the dog home to see how they work in your home.
Our standard adoption fee is $350 which covers microchipping inc registration on NZCAR, full vaccinations, desexing and council registration costs(current year up to 30 June only). This also covers any other treatments they've had as well. If a trial is ended within 1 calendar month of the dog going on trial we will refund your adoption fee minus $100 which covers costs and support the dog moving back into foster care. After 1 month there is no refund available.
All going well after the trial, you want to adopt? Great! Now there’s just the paperwork to be sorted. Easy!
But it doesn’t end there! We can help with anything you may need, from behaviour help to advice on kennels, vets, daycares, or anything in between. We are always available to help! We have invested a lot of time and love into the dogs we adopt out, so we are able to help for their entire life.
And we want to hear from you! We love success stories, updates and photos and have a parents facebook group for you to join. There is nothing more we love hearing about than one of our dogs having the amazing life they deserve. It's also really nice seeing our dog parents connect, and sometimes catch up!
Thank you for considering adoption through Chained Dog Rehabilitation & Rehoming.
Please Note: We can have up to 30 dogs listed online at any one time, which means we could be receiving multiple applications per day for each of these dogs. Each application takes time to process and assess. Our volunteers all have jobs & families of their own so please be patient, we will get back to you but it may be up to 72 hours before you receive a response. Make sure you check your junk mail too, as our emails sometimes go in there.
If you are applying for dogs through other agencies please contact us if you adopt a dog so we can remove your name from our system. This will save us putting in time if it is not needed.
Chained Dog Rehabilitation & Rehoming - Auckland Dog Rescue
Registered Charity CC54833
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