General Questions

How long has Gotcha day been running?

Gotcha Day Rescue was first established in March 2022.

Who was the first dog homed by Gotcha Day? 

Our first dog was Pippa, she came to us on the 8th March 2022. She was a Yorkshire Terrier cross, 2 years old and only 5.8kg!

Pippa's gotcha day is on the 3rd April 2022.

Are there any risk of diseases?

 All gotcha day dogs are given all vaccinations needed and if from abroad they are tested for 4DX and Brucella.

Can I adopt a intact dog?

All the adult dogs that come into our care are neutered. Puppies who are too young to be neutered will be subject to a neutering contract. This form must be signed by the adopter before they can adopt their chosen dog. This means that when the puppy or dog is able to be neutered, the adopter has agreed to neuter them asap.

What can you tell me about the dogs?

Most of our dogs from Europe have been found abandoned or wandering the streets, malnourished, scared or injured. They are cared for initially by our wonderful rescuers who prepare them for travel to the UK. If they are UK dogs we do sometimes have their previous history. All of our dogs go into a foster home first before adoption and are fully assessed. We can then give you information about the nature and character of the dog. Any information we have on each dog can be found in their profile.

What is your Dog Sizing Guide?

Small - Up to 10 kg  (e.g. Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, French Bulldog, Toy Poodle)

Medium - Between 11kg to 26kg (e.g. Bulldog, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie)

Large - Between 26kg to 45kg (e.g. Golden Retriever, Rottweiler )

Question's about fostering

What is the financial commitment?

Fosterers are expected to provide food, bedding and toys as you would for your own dog. All vets bills are paid for by the rescue, we do ask that you let us know in advance of vet treatments you feel the dog may need.                                                                                      

Does it matter where in the country I live?

We have fosterers all over the UK, We are open to foster homes to be in any part of England.                                                                          

How long will I have the foster dog for?

Generally, our fosterers keep the dog until it finds a new home. In some cases this can be a matter of a few weeks, for others a few months or longer. This generally depends on how much rehabilitation the dog needs. 

You can let us know which would suit you best so we can match you with the right dog.                                                                                    

What support will I get?

We have a private group chat which is very supportive and friendly. We remain in regular contact with you and can offer help and advice or just have a chat!

This is a place where Fosterers can share stories, experiences and ask questions. We are also happy to offer help and advice over the telephone.                                                                                                                                

Will my foster dog be housetrained?

Most of our dogs will be used to living outside, however, our wonderful rescuers work on basic commands with the dogs so they are generally used to going outside to the toilet.  Puppies are more likely to need housetraining.                                                                             

Will I need to train and rehabilitate the dog?

We ask all our foster homes to provide some basic training as this helps the foster dog to prepare for their future home. This will include some lead training, socialisation and helping the dog to adjust to normal family routines and to get used to noises such as the  television, vacuum cleaner etc. Most dogs have never had these experiences. Some dogs settle very quickly, some are less confident and need some time and patience to adjust to their new lives.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Can I foster if I work, have children, other dogs or animals?

Yes you can. Our team will assess dogs before they come to you, so that you get a dog who will be ok with other members of your family and be a good match for your lifestyle. Unfortunately you will not be able to foster dogs if you work away from home full time.                                   

What happens if I have a family emergency or an accident?

If for some reason you are unable to temporarily look after your foster dog, our team will liaise with you to arrange for your foster dog to be cared for.                                                                                                                                

How do you find my foster dog a home?

Your foster dog will be continually promoted on our website and on social media to find a forever home. We do ask that you provide us with regular photos and updates so that we can keep the information about your dog up to date.

Is it hard to say goodbye?

In short, yes it can be quite sad saying goodbye to a foster dog as you have invested so much, both in time and emotionally.   However finding them a new home is the ultimate ambition of a rescue organisation and means we can help more dogs who are living in often poor conditions, just waiting for a foster place.                                                                                                                                   
Think of it as if you looking after the dog for their new owners, it’s just that we haven’t found them yet. New owners are often happy to stay in touch and seeing a dog settled and happy in their new family is just the most rewarding experience ever.

Questions about Adopting

I work full time, can I adopt?

We can not re-home a dog where the dog will be left for any considerable length of time, Unless you work from home permanently or can put arrangements in place to ensure the dog is cared for in your absence. Please note, popping home at lunchtime does not count!

Can I adopt if I live in a flat?

Yes we do consider applications from people who live in a flat. All applications are considered on a case by case basis. However, not all dogs are suited to living in flat, our team will advise you.

Can I adopt if I have young children?

Yes, we can consider application from families with children. This will be considered on a case by case basis. Not all of our dogs are suitable to be homed with children, our team will advise you.

Why do I need to be home checked?

The home check is an important process and enables us to find out more about you. The main purpose of a home check is to assess that the home and garden are safe, and whether there is any probability of escape for a dog. You will asked some questions about your situation and experience.

Will the dog get on with my cat?

We do have dogs in foster placements where the foster carer will have a cat. We are then able to state that the dog can live with a cat, this information will be included on each dog's profile page. Occasionally we are able to ‘cat test’ but we can’t guarantee we will always be able to do this.                                                                                                                                                                                               . Please ask our team to find out if the dog you are interested in will be suitable to live with your cat.

Do you re-home to older people?

Yes we do, we always match the dog with the person but age is not the defining factor for re-homing our dogs. At times we take in older dogs who are looking for nothing more than a quiet place on your sofa and would suit an older person with less mobility.         We consider each application on a case by case basis. Our team can advise.

What if there are other people interested in the same dog?

Some dogs attract a lot of interest and may have many enquiries. No matter who applied first, We look for the best home possible to suit the dogs needs. Only applicants who have passed a home check can adopt, so we would advise that getting a home check completed be the first priority.                                                                                                                                                                                     We have many other lovely dogs looking for homes, and some sadly do not generate any interest. Please consider another dog if your first choice is already adopted.

What is the adoption donation fee?

Our adoption fee is on average £475, dependent on the costs incurred to prepare the dog for adoption. This is not a purchase price, this is a donation that covers our costs and enables us to use that amount to save another. This is non-refundable.

What support is offered after adoption?

We feel it is important to offer our adopting families support should this be required. We promote responsible rescue and re-homing which includes rescue back up for life and we are always on the other end of the phone should you need advice, support or any other help to ensure everyone is happy and enjoying life together. We prefer that families contact us when there are issues so that we can offer the right support.

What if my circumstances change and I can not keep the dog?

Should circumstances change for you and you are no longer able to keep your dog, we will take them back and re-home them for you. It is part of the contract you sign with us that the dog has to come back to Gotcha Day Rescue. Under no circumstances should a dog be sold on, put down or given to a 3rd party.