RSPCA Suffolk East and Ipswich Branch
Reg. Charity No. 206269
Policy on Re-Homing Companion Animals (Updated October 2014)
 Aim
The Branch aims to accept all those animals which are suitable for re-homing into its care,
until they can be placed in appropriate permanent and caring homes.
 RSPCA Re-homing Policy and Practices
The Branch supports the RSPCA policy, and will abide by the guidelines.
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Branch Guidelines
(i) Wherever possible animals will be accepted straight away. If accommodation is not
available, animals will be kept in order on a waiting list. (NB due to the numbers involved,
there is no waiting list for cats at this time).
(ii) In certain cases, priorities will be allowed to “jump” the queue. These cases include, but
are not limited to:
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Inspectorate cruelty or welfare cases;
animals whose owners have died or become permanently
incapacitated;
animals whose owner are being evicted or moving immediately; and
animals who are taken to a vets or the Branch Clinic for euthanasia,
who are suitable for re-homing
(iii) The Branch would not normally re-home an animal where:
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the animal – dog, puppy or kitten only – would regularly be left
unattended for more than four hours;
the adopters are non-permanent UK residents;
the adopter’s household includes children below 5 years of age –
kittens under 6 months only;
the adopter’s accommodation has no access to a garden or is beside a
busy road; and
the adopter lives in a flat other than a ground floor flat – cats.
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Additional Points to Note
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Adopters who have communal gardens should be assessed on a case by case basis;
taking into account the wishes of the landlord, other residents, the presence of other
animals and access to/the security of the garden.
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Applications by service personnel should also be assessed on a case by case basis.
Written proof is required by the service person’s superiors as to whether they will
move out of the UK in the foreseeable future.
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Dogs to be re-homed with children must be carefully matched and assessed on a case
by case basis, taking into account the nature and experiences of both the animal and
children.
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We generally ask for a minimum five foot fence for dogs. However, each case
should, again, be assessed on a case by case basis. For example, an elderly dog or
toy dog could need less, etc. We should give all adopters the opportunity to improve
their fencing.
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Fostering
Animals which come into the Branch’s care may be fostered in the following circumstances,
and priority must be given to those most in need:
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animals whose condition is deteriorating after a long stay or through stress;
elderly or very young animals who may suffer stress when not in a home
environment; and
Inspectorate case animals which have not been signed over, and if agreed by the
Inspectorate.
All other re-homing rules and guidelines apply to a foster animal, including assessment and
home visiting. No foster home should normally be used for more than one animal.
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Assessment
No animals should normally be re-homed within seven (cats) to ten (all other animals) days
of coming into the Branch’s care, to enable suitable assessments to be made. All animals at
the Centre will be fully assessed by staff, and the details will be recorded.
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Home Visiting
Home visits should be made before re-homing an animal and between one to six months
(ideally three to four months) afterwards, to ensure that the animal has been re-homed
successfully. The home visit co-ordinator will monitor the home visitors.
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Fostering before Adoption
In some cases, at the discretion of the Animal Centre Managers, potential adopters will be
asked to foster an animal for a period before they officially adopt – this is especially in cases
where the animal has known behavioural issues, has been returned to us already or, in the
case of rabbits, where we are re-homing to an adopter who has existing rabbit(s), to ensure
they bond.
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Adoption Fee
There is an adoption donation fee for all animals; this fee varies dependent on the animal
being adopted. Any change to the set fee is at the discretion of the Animal Centre
Managers.
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Returning Animals
If an adopter decides that they no longer wish to keep the animal(s) that they have re-homed
from our Branch, we ask that they contact us so that arrangements can be made to take the
animal(s) back into our care. It may be a little while before we can take the animal back into
our care due to the number of spaces we have available, however we will help as soon as we
possibly can. All returns must be by prior arrangement wherever possible.
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Neutering
Unless there are overriding medical reasons, all animals will be neutered before adoption
takes place. Where the animal is not old enough for the procedure to take place, the adopter
will be provided with a voucher for the operation and the Animal Centre will carefully
monitor the situation.
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Records
A record of each animal which comes into the Branch’s care, including those fostered, should
be maintained at the Animal Centre.
Records should include the known history, veterinary treatment, assessment details and
records of home visits. This data will be used for preparing monthly statistical returns.
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Cats
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No Holiday or change in circumstances within 3 Months of adoption
The owner and occupants of the household cannot have an allergy relating to the
animal/s being adopted
Landlords permission given to the centre within 3 working days of reservation before
H/V sent off
24/7 Access to sheltered accommodation by means of cat flap, shed, garage, kennel or
alternative. Evidence is required by the Management or H/V discretion. Evidence
required is to be submitted within 5 working days before home visit is sent off.
All indoor cats must be provided with litter trays and lots of stimulation. A
outdoor/indoor cat cannot be housed with a FIV positive cat.
Communal garden adoptions are dependent on home visit
Homes with no gardens are dependent on home visit
Vaccination details of current owned cat to be seen by the centre staff and photo
copied for records
If adopting to a house where there is an existing cat the minimum that is accepted is
that one cat is fully vaccinated before any adoption/foster takes place (In a multi cat
household all cats must be vaccinated)
Kittens can be left a maximum of 4hrs at 0-6mths
Kittens can be left longer if two kittens being adopted or second cat in home staff and
management to decide
Number of cats per household equal to amount of bedrooms in house. If unsure of the
space available for multi cat household we can use home visitors discretion.
All cats neutered unless medical reasons/age vet letter accepted
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Rabbits
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Rabbits can be rehomed singular as house rabbits or alongside/in view of other
rabbits depending on individual, staff and managers
House rabbits require their own room and hutch/crate + dirt box + foraging
opportunities + toys etc
All rabbits neutered
All rabbits fully vaccinated against Myxo and VHD
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Birds
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Birds will be rehomed to aviaries when possible
Home visits to be carried out for Aviary’s and Indoor specialised birds
Home visits required where predatory animals are currently living
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Degus
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All Degus neutered unless medical reasons/age vet letter accepted
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Ferrets
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To be rehomed with awareness to prey animals
All ferrets neutered unless medical reasons/age vet letter accepted
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Chinchillas
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All chinchillas neutered unless medical reasons/age vet letter accepted
Predatory animals must not have access to room where chinchillas live
Chinchillas can live in aviary set up
All chinchillas have home visits
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Guinea pigs
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All Male guinea pigs neutered
Guinea pigs can be rehomed singular as house Guinea pigs or alongside/in view of
other Guinea pigs depending on individual, staff and managers
Home visits required where predatory animals are currently living
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Dogs
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No Holiday or change in circumstances within 3 Months of adoption
Working hours must be questioned I regards to working patterns, number of days per
week flexibility of 5 hours left, to be given for maximum of 2 days
If left for a maximum of two days for 8 hours someone needs to look after the dog to
equate 4-5hrs max left (that person is required to meet the dog pre-adoption and be
involved with the home visit)
Do not adopt to time sharing dogs
Dogs can go to work with the adopters dependent on dog, business and practicality of
workplace. This can be assessed on a case by case basis. We may require
confirmation from the business dependent on situation.
Home visit of work place must be done if routine.
Dog flaps not a substitute for max length of time left
All dogs must be neutered (unless medical reasons/age vet letter accepted),
All dogs must be vaccinated, If adopting to a house where there is an existing dog
one or both should be fully vaccinated before any adoption/foster takes place. If not
fully vaccinated dogs can meet after 5 days from 1st vaccination.
Advise about law change in regards to micro chipping
No to communal gardens.
Home with communal access to own garden dependent on home visit
Landlords permission given to the centre within 3 working days of reservation before
H/V sent off
Puppies can be rehomed to households with children of any age dependent on meet at
the centre. Home visit not to be sent off until all children have met the dog.
The owner/Persons in the home is to have no allergy relating to the animal/s being
adopted
The dogs suitability will be assessed to whether he/she can be adopted to a home
where the dog will be placed into boarding for holidays etc.
Holidays within 3-6 mths dependent on dog/boarding/who is looking after the dog.
Staff and management to discuss
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These are guidelines only and may be varied with the agreement of the Centre
Manager
NB This policy is as set out by the Branch Trustees as of {12th November 2014}. It should not be seen
as precluding future changes.