FAQs
Where are you based?
Although our founders are based in Cheshire, we have members of the team all over the UK. Therefore we are proud to offer our rehoming services all over the UK mainland.
How is the rescue funded?
Second Chance Spaniel Rescue is funded entirely by donations from the public, as well as our own fundraising including raffles, sponsorship and selling our merchandise. When dogs are adopted a donation is required. All the donations go towards helping the next dog in need.
Is anyone within the team paid a salary or expenses?
No, none of our team members are paid a salary. Majority of our volunteers wouldn't even consider taking money from the dogs who need it more.
How are donations used?
Donations are used towards vet care (neutering, vaccinations, dental care etc), transport costs, rehabilitation costs.
Do you neuter all your dogs that come into rescue?
No, some dogs come into rescue already neuterered. The majority that aren't already neutered are considered on a case by case basis. There are some execptions, for example, if the dog is under 2 years old, as this can lead to health issues in the future. We also try to avoid neutering dogs who have behavioural issues which can be made worse by neutering. In these instances we have neutering contracts in place to ensure the dogs can never be bred from, we also have volunteers within the team who check up on these dogs more regularly too.
Do the dogs that come into the rescue see a vet?
Yes, absolutely, we insist upon it. All our dogs see a vet within 3-4 days of coming into our care, quicker if its urgently required. But as standard they see a vet for a basic health check to be carried out. We do ask relinquishers to provide the latest information from their vet where possible.
What is a "Long Term Foster"?
A long term foster is where a dog is placed into foster care but will remain there for their entire life. It could be that the dog has an ongoing health complications and/or requires palliative care. In these instances, Second Chance Spaniel Rescue cover all the costs of the dog for the rest of its life - hence the need for ongoing donations.
Do I have to submit an application form for each dog I see, or do you keep my details on file?
If you are a new applicant, you will need to submit an application form each time you see a dog you think would be suited to your home, this is because each dogs application form is specific to their needs and requirements. The only time we keep details on file, is if you've been homechecked and passed, however you will still need to apply each time for the dog(s) you feel are suited to your home.
What happens if I don't hear back about my application I've submitted?
Unfortunately due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to contact the applicant who's home we feel is best suited for the dog and has been chosen to adopt. We sadly do not have the time or man power to contact each individual telling them their application is not suitable and why.
Can I apply for a dog that is "under assessment"?
No, you can only apply for a dog once its full behavioural assessment has been posted along with their individual application form. We try to ask people to refrain from messaging, calling or texting in the mean time.
How do I apply for a Homecheck?
General homechecks at the moment are closed due to the influx of applications we received during the Covid-19 lockdowns. We are looking to open them in due course, so please keep an eye out.
Can I apply to adopt if I work?
Yes, however it depends on the dog & the work situation; some dogs may need someone home more often then not, some might be happy being left for 4 hours, we do try to minimise how long a dog is left for, as one of the reasons dogs are surrendered into our care is people working full time and not having the time to dedicate to the dog. We would never want to put a dog into the same situation it came out from. So to prevent this, if people do work full time, including working from home, we ask them to look at dog walkers or doggy day care so that the dogs aren't left alone for hours on end with no stimulation or companionship.
Can I adopt if I have an unsecure garden?
We are well aware that people who live on farms and such don't have a "secure" garden. However this won't automatically disclude you from adopting. We take into consideration each application and judge it on its own merits. We don't have a blanket ban on if your garden isn't secure, you can't adopt. So please don't let that put you off applying.
Can I adopt if I have children?
Yes, unlike most rescues we don't have a blanket ban on childrens ages. We will home dogs in the home best suited to their needs and requirements once assessed. So if a dog has happily lived with children and been assessed with children and would thrive in a family home with children, that is the home we would look for.
I've never owned a dog before, can I still adopt?
Yes, we are happy to adopt out to first time spaniel owners, we offer behavioural and training advice/support and as long as you've done the relevent research on the breed we would be happy for you to adopt. Please note that some dogs may need a more experienced home, depending on their needs and not all spaniels we get in are suitable for first time owners, so you would need to fully read the dogs write up before applying.
What equipment do I need to have to foster a dog?
Sometimes the dogs that come into us come with very little, if anything; we would request that Fosterers set up a box with essentials for when they take in a Foster Dog. The things you would need on the list would include; collar, lead, slip lead, harness, long line, ID Disc (supplied by SCSR), bowls, poo bags, bed and blanket. This equiptment is yours and should not be handed over when the dog is adopted, we will advise the adopters what they need to buy for their dog.
What equipment do I need to have to adopt a dog?
Some dogs that come into our care come with everything they need, others nothing. We will advise what each dog comes with when speaking with you. We would suggest however a collar, slip lead, harness, lead, long lunge line, car harness clip/travel crate/ bed and blanket as the minimum to get.
How can I volunteer with SCSR?
Please refer to our "Volunteering" tab on the website.
How can I donate to SCSR?
Please refer to our "Donations/Fundraising" tab on the website.
Are you a registered Charity?
No, not at the moment, Covid-19 unfortunately put a halt to that. But its something we continue to stride towards as a team.