NZCR OUT OF CHRISTCHURCH ADOPTIONS PROCESS:

New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue is based in Canterbury, where our Trustees, vets, physio therapists and our experienced foster carers reside. However, we take in dogs from all over New Zealand and have adopted dogs to various parts New Zealand also. 

We have many ex-trust dogs placed in the lower South Island and as far away as Auckland. But we do not adopt outside of New Zealand. 

Please see the below process for adopting from us if you are not located in Canterbury. 

Why are some dogs only available in Christchurch or Canterbury?
Some of our dogs may only be adopted locally in Canterbury due to  medical or behavioral reasons, or to ensure proper integration into  their forever home. Our foster carers are experienced in integrating our rescue dogs and need to be available for support with special cases. We prioritize the health and welfare of the dog always as we want to ensure their success and make sure we pair you with a great companion  

Please note - we do not adopt out to those we haven't met in person. Unfortunately if you are unable to meet the dog in person due to travel, you will need to contact a local rescue near you. There are many rescue dogs throughout New Zealand seeking homes and we understand it is not possible for every person to visit our dogs.

GETTING STARTED:
 

1. Step One - Submit an Adoption Application and Supporting Information: 

To apply for adoption, please complete the adoption form with supporting  information. We require the completed  application form to understand the home you are offering. Please be detailed in your application to increase your chances of being matched with a dog.

What supporting information is required?

• Photos:  Please  provide clear photos of your property including the backyard,  fencing,  boundaries, entries, and exits. Do not send listing photos or  personal  photos of people or other pets (for privacy reasons). 
• Please also do not invite us to  inspect your property instead of  sending photos as we will not be process  your application without  them. 
• Photos are uploaded to the application form (there is a link there)

• Landlord Consent:  We require written consent from your landlord or Housing New Zealand  if  you are renting.  You can upload an email or letter (PDF) to the  online form.
• If needed - please see "files" for a template approval form you could attach to your application.
• Sorry we will not phone your landlord in replacement of this, so  it's important that you provide the required information in the  requested manner for us to process your application.

IMPORTANT TIPS! Please ensure you answer all questions in the application thoroughly and  provide all required information and attachments. Please make sure to  check that you meet all the adopter requirements noted on the profile of  the dog you are interested in before submitting your application.

Where are the dogs you have available?

The dogs we have available are under the "dogs in our care" tab unless we have chosen to keep them off the website. We encourage applicants to submit an application as early as possible - because we sometimes seek adopters within our database already. 

If I have already applied to adopt prior, do I need to submit another application?

If any material details have changed (ie. new pets, people in the home, working hours, address etc) or it has been over 12 months - yes. If it was recently and the information is still all correct, email us and tell us that you have previously applied and note the dog you wish to be considered for after checking the dogs' profile and making sure you meet their adopter requirements.

Why do you not accept applications by phone or requests to call the Rescue?
We do not have a rescue phone number and the Adoption forms streamline the  process for us and allow the applicant to provide all the necessary information we require. 

What happens once I submit the application?

If you apply for a dog that is available, we  will review your application and contact you if we want to progress to  the next stage. We aim to respond within 5 working days. If the dog is  unavailable, we will hold your application and pass it on when the dog  is ready for adoption. Please check our social media or website for  updates, as we cannot provide timelines.

Any questions?

If  you have any queries, please see our adoption FAQ first (this is  located via the link at the bottom of the page). Then email us via the  contact form on our website if your question is not answered by our FAQ.

2. Step Two - Meet and Greets:

If not based in Canterbury, before any travel, we can arrange a  preliminary video interview for you to "meet the dog" and their foster parents, ask any queries and for us to ask you about anything too!

If both parties are happy and feel it could be a great match - We'll also invite you to a meet and greet in Canterbury. Sometimes meeting the dog, in person, for a couple of hours and speaking to their foster parents helps an Adopter fully understand the commitment this particular dog would be and if they feel it would be a match for them.

Following the "in person" meeting, we will discuss as a team promptly and get back to you as soon as possible. If the meeting does not go well or we have concerns, we will discuss these with you. 

Please note:

• We only invite those we are seriously considering as the forever adoptive home to travel to meet the dog. Usually you are the only applicant for consideration at present, or one of two applicants, maximum. We know it's a huge effort and expense for you to travel, but also that it can be an emotional process.

• We are appreciative of the effort and want to ensure we're as transparent as possible - in short, we don't want to waste your time (or the foster parents') if we aren't at least fairly certain it will be a good match! We will discuss any "concerns" we might have with you, before you travel (during the video interview or email).

• Please understand that a meet greet invitation or traveling to meet the dog does not guarantee adoption of the dog. As indicated above, we don't invite adopters to travel unless we are hopeful they could be a match and we will also let you know if considering any other applicants (so feel free to ask). If the meet and greet does not go well or there are any other issues, we will let you know that it hasn't been successful as soon as practicable.

• As above - we don't send dogs to any adopters we haven't met prior and understand if this process isn't for everyone. We hope you understand our reasoning and how careful we are with the dogs in our care. If so, we'd love to hear from you. If unable to travel, we understand - please contact a local rescue group in your area and we wish you well with your search!

What happens after a meet and greet?
After the meet and greet, our team will chat about whether it's a good match or any concerns. But please do not expect to take the dog home with you right away. We may need to meet another applicant also, or time to discuss options with you. If you are  waiting for a response, please email us at the trust email provided and we will respond as soon as possible.

If you are selected as a match for a particular dog:

After the meet/greet, a fellow rescue we work alongside, or council representative will conduct a home-check on your property. They will contact you to make arrangements for this.

3. Step Three - Trial:

If successful and all parties feel the dog is a match for the family, the dog will go on trial with the prospective Adopter. To proceed with the adoption, a signed trial agreement.

Unfortunately, after past issues with adoption payments being omitted and their recovery: we now require the full  adoption fee to be paid and cleared in the trust account prior to the dog going on trial. Please consider this if you are making travel plans for the dog as we need to ensure payment is made in advance (and cleared) to avoid delays with any travel.

Travel:

• If coming to Christchurch to collect the dog: once the adoption fee is paid and the Trial Agreement is returned, a mutually convenient time will be arranged with the foster carer for you to collect the dog.

• If needing to transport the dog to you: please see the FAQ page re: travel. You will need to consider the pet bus or flights (cargo or accompanied). Please contact Petbus or AirNZ for information on their processes.
• Note: We can purchase a travel crate safe for the airplane on your behalf (at your cost) if needed and assist the drop off of the dog to the pet bus or airport of course.

• Adoption fees: As above - due to prior issues with recovery, please remember the full adoption fee and any travel expense fees (ie. if we purchase a crate on your behalf) must be paid into the trust account prior to collection/changeover of the dog, and cleared in our trust account. Without this, they will not be released for a flight or into the care of the prospective adopter. 

• Failed trials: If the trial is unsuccessful, the adoption fee will be utilized (in full or in part) to return the dog to our care, usually by plane as this is quickest. Adopters may be invoiced for any deficit (if the cost is more than the adoption fee was). But likewise, any surplus amount (if the travel costs are less than the adoption fee) is refunded to you. 

• Why? Please understand as a charity, we have very limited funds and need to ensure this is spent on essentials for the dogs in our care. Unfortunately, if adopters out of town wish to adopt from us, we need to have a plan for "return costs" in the event it doesn't work out so that the trust will not be "out of pocket". This is the only way we can extend the opportunity to out of town adopters. We can provide you with confirmation of the travel costs for the sake of transparency (please ask!) The adoption fee is only used to return the dog to our care and/or any crate purchase needed. 

• All fees are to be paid to our Westpac Account - New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue Trust 03-0823-0074502-000  (we do not accept cash on pick up!) please use your full name and the name of the dog as references, so we can easily track your payment.

• See the below FAQ for more information on travel.

How do we confirm the adoption?
During the trial period, please keep us updated and we will also  check  in with you periodically. You can send us updates and photos  anytime. At  the end of the trial, we will contact you to confirm if you  want to  adopt the dog. If yes, we will send a formal confirmation of  adoption letter and change the registration and microchip details to  officially  make the dog a part of your family.

What if it doesn't work out?
In the event that the Adopter, or the Trust, terminate during the trial  period, the dog is to be returned into the care of their foster carer. All items supplied with the dog must be returned.

If in the North Island, or outside of Christchurch, you will be responsible for the costs of returning the dog into our care. We reserve the right to use the adoption fee paid by you to do so and invoice any surplus fees. If there is any remainder left, it will be returned to the Adopter.

As you can understand, we are a small charity that survives solely from fundraising and donations. Sometimes we even struggle to meet essential costs. So we cannot pay the costs of transport for dogs up and down the Country for adopters who are not local. This includes the cost of bringing dogs back into the care of the Trust in Canterbury if their trial does not work out.

If you are in the South Island and/or able to return the dog back to us yourself, provided that the trust incurs no costs in relation to the return of the dogs, we will reimburse the adoption fee, or any surplus amount, as is the normal procedure for Christchurch adoptions. 

Please Note: We do NOT provide harnesses, leashes, bowls, crates and the like when dogs go on  trial. You will need to ensure you have all of these at the time of  trial. These items are retained by our foster carers for other dogs in  the care of the Trust. It is the Adopter's responsibility to purchase  these items prior to the dog arriving for it's trial. 

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR OUR ADOPTION FAQ - THIS CONTAINS MORE INFORMATION ON THE  ADOPTION PROCESS, FEES,  OTHER COMMON QUERIES, REGISTRATION AND  MICRO-CHIPPING, AMONG OTHER THINGS. 

Any questions?

If you have any queries, please see our adoption FAQ first - this is located via the link at the bottom of the page. Then email us via the contact form on our website if your question is not answered by our FAQ.