Adoption Application
Everything you need to know about our adoption process. Our aim is to rehome Lurchers, Greyhounds, Salukis, Whippets, Longdogs and all other Sighthounds to the best homes possible.
Our rehoming criteria
These criteria are non-negotiable, and are in place for the safety and wellbeing of our dogs. Please do not apply if you do not meet any of the following criteria.
Garden Requirements
Your garden must be fully secure, with fencing. walls or hedges and gates at least 6 feet high and completely escape-proof.
Do not apply if your fencing, walls, hedges or gate are under 6 feet unless you are prepared to increase their height.
Exceptions: For elderly dogs, infirm dogs, and very young puppies, we may accept fences and gates that are 5 feet high.
Please Note: We will consider applicants without a private garden, but we do not place dogs in homes with communal or shared gardens.
Home Check
All prospective homes will be subject to a thorough home check.
Families with Children
We do not place our dogs in homes with children under 10 years of age. This policy is non-negotiable.
Recall Training and Lead Requirements
We cannot guarantee that any of our dogs will have reliable recall, so they may need to remain on a lead. Do not apply if you require an off-lead dog, as our dogs have not been tested off-lead due to insurance constraints. This policy is non-negotiable.
Meeting the Dog
You must be prepared to travel to meet your chosen dog at their foster home, along with any current dogs you own. The dogs must meet and interact before the adoption to ensure compatibility. We cannot transport the dog to you or arrange a halfway meeting.
Vaccination Requirements for Current Pets
All your current dogs must be fully vaccinated, and vaccination certificates must be presented at the home check.
Insurance
Any dog adopted from Lurcher SOS must be insured within 5 days of adoption.
Working Homes
We do not place our dogs in homes intended for hunting or similar working purposes.
Dog Doors
We do not adopt dogs to applicants with dog flaps or doors, as unsupervised access to gardens increases the risk of dog theft.
Living Conditions
Our dogs must live indoors as part of the family. We do not place dogs in homes where they will be kept in kennels or housed outdoors.
Health and Veterinary Care
All our dogs are vet-checked, neutered when possible (with a neutering agreement if needed), vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for fleas and worms before they join their new family.
Adoption Donation
We ask for a minimum donation of £450 for adult dogs and £475 for puppies, which helps cover veterinary and other care costs.
Location
While we’re based in Southern England, we have rehomed dogs throughout the UK, including Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Wales, Scotland, and Nottinghamshire to name some.. However, you will need to travel to meet the dog in its foster home (see point 5).
Commitment to Rehabilitation
Do not apply if you are not prepared to work through any issues a rescue sighthound may have.
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Once we’ve received your application and confirmed it meets our adoption criteria, a volunteer will contact you to discuss your application in detail and ensure you understand the responsibilities of adoption. If all goes well, a Homecheck Coordinator will arrange for a home checker to visit you.
Purpose of the Home Check
The home check allows us to meet you in person, assess the safety of your environment, and better understand your household. This helps us ensure our dogs are placed in safe, suitable homes and assists in matching the right dog with the right family. All family members should be present for the home check.
What to Expect
A home checker will ask questions about your experience and circumstances, focusing on your suitability for sighthound care. Some questions may feel repetitive but are essential. They’ll tour your home, ask to see the area where the dog will live, and inspect the garden and fences to confirm they meet our security standards. There’s no need for special preparations—we want to see your home as it normally is.
Preparing for Your Home Check
If you’re new to sighthounds, a bit of research can be helpful. Ensure your garden is secure with fences and gates at least 6 feet high, with no holes or gaps.
After the Home Check
The home checker will submit their report to us, and we will review it as quickly as possible. We’ll then inform you whether you’ve passed. If we don’t have a suitable dog available immediately, please check our website for updates, as new dogs come into our care regularly. You don’t need to reapply.
Adoption Finalization
Upon adoption, an adoption donation is required, and you’ll sign an Adoption Contract (and, in some cases, a Neutering Agreement).
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Financial Responsibility
Dogs require ongoing costs like insurance, food, and potential medical care. Make sure you’re prepared for these expenses.
Time and Social Needs
Dogs are social animals. If you’ll be away for more than four hours a day, consider if this is the right time to adopt a dog.
Family Commitment
Ensure everyone in your household is on board with the decision to adopt.
Secure Boundaries
Most sighthounds can jump high, so we require boundaries (hedges, walls, and fences) of at least 6 feet with no gaps, including gates. If you’re not prepared to make these adjustments, please do not apply.
Adjustment Period
Dogs may have accidents initially as they settle in. They need time to adjust after the stress of moving through foster care. Patience is key as they learn their new routine with you.
On-Lead Expectations
Sighthounds are not typically suitable as off-lead dogs due to their speed and tendency to run far and fast. Lost or injured Lurchers in road accidents are tragically common. If you need a dog that can safely be off-lead, please consider a different breed.
Sighthound Characteristics
Sighthounds come with distinct quirks and personalities. For example:
Salukis can be aloof
Greyhounds are typically placid
Lurchers vary based on their mix.
Generally, expect some unique sighthound traits: couch-sharing, comedy antics, counter-surfing, selective hearing, and an endless love for chasing small animals.
Children in the Home
We do not place dogs in homes with children under 10. Please do not apply if your children are younger than 10.
Lifelong Commitment
Adopting a dog means committing to support and love them for their entire life, through both good times and challenges. If you’re not ready for this level of commitment, please reconsider applying.
Important
If you do not hear from us within four days of submitting your application, it means your application was not successful. Due to high demands on our volunteers, we regret that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
We receive a high volume of applications, and many are unfortunately unsuitable because the applicant hasn't read the dog's profile in full. This causes unnecessary delays and creates extra work for our volunteer team. Please do not apply unless you meet all of the dog's specific requirements and our rehoming criteria, including having a secure garden with fencing at least 6ft high. These requirements are non-negotiable and are in place for the safety and wellbeing of the dogs. Thank you for respecting our process and helping us spend our time where it's needed most — caring for the dogs.