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. We do not adopt outside of New Zealand. 

Please see the below process for adopting from us, if you are not located in Canterbury. We do not adopt out to those we haven't met in person. No exceptions.

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, and 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. We prioritize the  health and welfare of the dog and want to ensure their successful  integration into their new home. Our decision is always based on what's  best for the dog. If you require a dog to be local to you, there are  other rescues you can consult.
 

Where are the dogs you have available?

The dogs we have available can be found at the above link under "dogs in our care". Not all of them will be, we also have some dogs that are not advertised on the website or social media at the request of the former owner. This is why we encourage people to submit an application noting the type of dog they are after. We may have them in care already, or they may come into care shortly.

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

No, unless any material details have changed (ie. new pets, people in the home, working hours, address etc). You will need to find and check your old application and consider if it is still up to date. If 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 now. Please make sure you review the dogs' profile and meet their adopter requirements first. 

GETTING STARTED:
 

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

To apply for adoption, please download and  complete the adoption form  found under "files" on our website, and  email it to us with supporting  information. We require the completed  application form to understand the  home you are offering, and do not  call adopters in replacement of this.  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. Please do not invite us to  inspect  your property instead of sending photos as we will not process  your  application without them. 

• Landlord Consent:  We require written consent from your landlord or Housing New Zealand  if  you are renting. Please see "files" for a template approval form.  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, including clear photos  of your property if you are a homeowner or written consent from your  landlord if you are renting. Incomplete applications will not be  considered, and we do not accept applications via Facebook or phone.  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. Finally, please read the Adoption Agreement portion of  the application form carefully and ensure that you are aware of your  obligations.

Where are the dogs you have available?

The dogs we have available can be found at the above link under "dogs in our care". 

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

Not if it is less than 6 months since you last  applied and all of your details are still the same. If any material  details have changed (ie. new pets, people in the home, working hours,  address etc) we need a new application. If your application is recent  and update, simply email us!

Why do you not accept applications by phone or requests to call the Rescue?
We don't have a rescue phone number. Adoption forms streamline the  process for us and provide all the necessary information we require. As  volunteers with full-time jobs outside of rescue, this is the most  efficient way for us to confirm whether you and your family are a match  for any particular dog. We also do not discuss individual dogs with  prospective applicants via phone without the adoption forms and  supporting information.

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:

 To ensure the best match between you and the dog, we may arrange a  preliminary video interview via Zoom or Facebook Messenger. We'll also  invite you to a meet and greet in Christchurch/Canterbury so you can get  to know the dog in person. Please note that attending a meeting does  not guarantee adoption, as we consider all applicants carefully. Also,  we do not send dogs to adopters without a prior meeting, and adopters  are responsible for all travel costs. 

If this approach works for you, we'd love to hear from you. Otherwise, please contact a local rescue group in your area.

What happens after a meet and greet?
After the meet and greet, our team will determine which home is the best match for the dog. This process may take a few days to a week, especially if other applicants are being considered. As volunteers, we fit rescue commitments around our full-time work schedules. If you are  waiting for a response, please email us at the trust email provided. Please understand that our priority is the dog's best interests, 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 and the full  adoption fee must be submitted and cleared in the trust account prior to the trial period. Please ensure payment is made in advance to avoid delays in the adoption process. We do not release dogs until the fee is received and cleared, and we do not make exceptions.  

Travel:

• For South Island adopters, 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.

• For North Island adopters, please let us know if you need assistance in arranging pet flights or travel by road. If you choose to fly the dog, you will need to arrange an airplane-approved crate at your own expense.

• Regardless of how the dog travels, the full adoption fee 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. Sorry, no exceptions.

• If the trial is unsuccessful, the adoption fee will not be refunded unless there is a surplus amount. Adopters will be invoiced for any deficit and the fee will be used for the dog's return travel to the Trust.

• 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.

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.