Frequently Asked Questions

SDR Shropshire do not age discriminate and any responsible adult can apply for an SDR dog. The only criteria we insist upon for senior citizens who wish to adopt and who are successfully matched to a dog is that a back up plan is in place with a close relative or friend in case of need. 

We are well aware that the older generation benefit greatly from a canine companion and quite often a match with an older dog is perfect for everyone. That said, with a back up plan in place, and if the match is right, a junior age dog may be suitable too. We would not recommend a puppy who could have anything up to 12,14,16 years or more ahead of them. It would be unfair all round and irresponsible of SDR to arrange. 

For all adoptions, SDR match the dog to people, their homes and their lifestyles. The priority is to home a dog where he or she will be happy, loved, cared for, walked appropriately for the dog’s energy levels, nurtured when required with patience and time. And for older adopters this might mean having some support from friends or family. 

Team SDR 

There is a strict policy in place regarding the age of resident children in the household. 

When adopting an SDR dog, resident children need to be 10 years old or more. In some cases, the age restriction will be 14 or 16 depending on the dog. And occasionally ‘no resident children’ will be stated. Details are included in each dog’s album. 

Visiting children of any age are fine under supervision and dog management. 

This policy is in place to ensure the safety of young children, yourselves and the dog, from unpredictable behaviours that may arise from youngsters and/or a newly adopted dog. We know many of you will tell us that your young child has been brought up with dogs, is confident around dogs, loves dogs, but we are also aware of issues in the past that have caused harm and even of cases where a dog is returned to be rehomed which is heart breaking for all concerned. 

As a responsible rescue centre, this policy stands in all cases.

Team SDR

There is a strict policy in place regarding rear garden boundaries. 

ALL fences/walls need to be at least 5-feet high, and 6-feet high for larger dogs. All side gates/back gates also need to be a minimum of 5’ high and secured with a lock and/or bolt.

It’s no good having mostly 5’ - it has to be the minimum height of 5’ all the way around. If your boundaries don’t meet the requirement, you may wish to consider adding trellis to the top to bring it up to the required height, or indeed replacing your fence if necessary. You may need to liaise with neighbours, a landlord or another third party but the responsibility falls on you to ensure your garden is safe and secure for one of our rescue dogs. And it’s SDR’s responsibility to ensure that no dog is rehomed to a home that falls below the policy requirement. 

A hedge is not seen as a secure boundary unless it has a 5’ high, well maintained, mesh/chicken wire behind it. 

Not all adopters have a private garden, eg families who live in flats, or within vast communal grounds, or even on a houseboat, when individual arrangements are agreed with the adopter appropriate to the dog’s safety and security. We don’t discriminate against people without a garden. But if you do have your own garden, or a communal garden, the boundary policy applies to you. 

Your garden needs to be dog friendly - no tables and chairs up against boundaries, nothing a dog could climb up or onto eg ladders, steps, plant troughs. Many rescue dogs are very good escapees and are resourceful in finding a way out, under a fence, through a broken bit of fence, climb onto a table and hop over to next door and away, jump from the ground to the top of a wall, it’s all a bit scary to think about, but the last thing you want is to lose your dog. So that’s why the policy is in place. 

Do you have a garden pond? Is it deep/is it covered with a safety grill/is there a ramp? What measures will you take to ensure it’s safe for an inquisitive dog who may take a swim?

So please consider what you may need to do in your garden to meet the requirements in the event that you are shortlisted for an SDR paws. If you are shortlisted, a home check will take place including your outdoor space. 

Thank you for reading and we hope this helps you prepare for a future SDR paws. Get checking those boundaries and make good where necessary. The paws’ safety is paramount and we know you’ll care about that as much as we do. 

Low fencing is a no-no. Run, hop, leap, gone. 

Team SDR

The minimum Adoption Donation is discussed with you if you are shortlisted for a dog. We don't disclose the adoption donation on the website or Facebook group as it differs depending on various factors such as the dog's country of origin, transport costs to the UK, any veterinary work abroad or in the UK including blood testing, the age of the dog is taken into account too. Sometimes an older dog will be offered at a lower adoption donation. Puppies will be a higher minimum adoption donation. Most of SDR's dogs are mixed breed but any full breed dogs will be a higher minimum adoption donation. 

SDR is a not-for-profit rescue centre and the adoption donations cover our costs only.

We recommend adopters visit SDR Shropshire to collect a dog they have been matched with.  Team SDR like to meet adopters and ensure that the match is perfect, and particularly so if you already have a resident dog who should also visit to ensure compatibility. Arrangements can be made for a meet and greet appointment once the adoption process is in the final stages.

Very occasionally, SDR can deliver a dog to an adoptive household, particularly if it's not too far away, for which a fee will be charged but collection is the preferred way for our small team.

No, SDR arrange adoptions all over the UK.  We have very happy adoptees all over England, Wales, Scotland and even the Channel Islands.  You do need to be willing to collect your new family member from SDR Shropshire, and if you live some distance away, this may entail an overnight stay in a hotel the night before the collection appointment, which is quite a popular arrangement. 

You need to email sdrdogs@mail.com to register your interest in a dog, quoting the dog's name in the email subject box.  Separate email for each dog please. On receipt of your email, we will forward you a pre-adoption Application Form to complete and submit. Once submitted, your form will be kept on file so you only ever need to complete this form once, unless you move house. Please add our email address to your contact address list so you don't miss any emails from us.