FAQ ABOUT RE-HOMING A DOG VIA NZ CHIHUAHUA RESCUE

WHY SHOULD I TRUST NZ CHIHUAHUA RESCUE TO REHOME MY DOG? 

Ten reasons you should rehome via us!

 1. We are a registered New Zealand Charity 

When you send your dog to us, you know you have selected a reputable and legitimate charity and are able to have peace of mind that your dog is in the safest hands possible. We are able to keep you updated on their progress (if you wish for us to do so).  

We are regulated and have the obligation to report our financial information each year to the Charities Services. Not all “charities” are registered. It is important to know when you donate to a charity, or surrender your dog to a Rescue that they are registered and therefore doing all they can to be transparent to the public about their activities or financial information. 

We do not recommend re-homing your dog to strangers on Facebook or TradeMe, or even to those purporting to be from “a Rescue” without searching their details first!  

2. We specialize in Chihuahuas (and crosses), we adopted out almost 40 within our first year and over 130 to date!

We are a breed-specific rescue with a team of Chihuahua-knowledgeable experts. 

Chihuahuas are unlike any other breed and have their own unique requirements and medical issues. We are able to identify those issues and their causes and refer between our network of staff who medically assist or mentally rehabilitate these dogs. Our team are very knowledgeable and passionate about the breed and doing all we can to assist dogs in need.

3. We provide comprehensive medical care. 

If your dog needs medical treatments, we are still happy to take them in, but please do let us know so we can make plans for their care. 

We also de-sex, vaccinate, microchip, flea and worm and register with the local Council all dogs that come into our care. 

We go above and beyond to provide dentals and/or costly orthopedic treatments. Anything the dog needs, we will cover! at no cost to you . We do not adopt out any dogs until we are certain that they are medically fit.  

4. We have a team of knowledgeable, loving and experienced foster carers available to address any negative personality “quirks” or behaviors.

We do not euthanize dogs for temperamental or behavioral issues. We take our commitment to the trust dogs very seriously and work with them to rehabilitate them into confident, well-adjusted family pets. If they cannot be safely homed they stay with one of our team as part of our permanent pack.

There are some dogs which will always be wary of strangers and less-confident. However, we assess all of our dog’s needs to ensure that we can accurately match the dog with an owner that will be supportive, understanding of their needs and ensure they thrive. 

5. We are Chihuahua people.

All of our team have their own pack of Chihuahuas. Our Trustees, vet and some of our fosters have been dog exhibitors, registered with DogsNZ and rescuers of Chihuahuas (privately) for a number of years before this Rescue. 

Many of our foster carers are experienced animal behaviorists and trainers. We also have fosters who have fostered Chihuahuas internationally for decades and are well-versed in sorting out any unsavory behaviors. One of our vets also specializes in the breed!

We know chihuahuas as well as love them! We are aware of the health issues they face, their breed tendencies and how to help them and figure out what they need best. 

6. All breed Rescues are for all breeds, but Chihuahua Rescue is for Chihuahuas (and Chihuahua crosses) specifically!

Many all breed rescues have people who love Chihuahuas too - what's not to love! Maybe they have even owned one or two. But owning one doesn't make you an expert. 

Our team is immersed the breed in a multitude of different ways, constantly researching and liaising with experts who have bred, shown and assisted Chihuahuas for years. Your dog will be in the very best hands when placed with our Rescue because we have structured it with only one breed in mind!

7.  We can help you organize transport if required

Worried about how to get them to us? message us and we can discuss the options with you.  We have assisted dogs from all over New Zealand.

8. We support you through the process

We understand "letting go" can often be a process and you may be anxious when your dog leaves and comes into our care. If you would like an update on a dog while in our care, please email us. We are able to get updates from the foster carer and pass these on.

9. We care about all of the dogs.

Each dog is important to us. No matter the age, pedigree or issues they suffer. We love them all and will do our best for each and every one... Yes, even the grumpy ones! We care about their mental well being as well as their physical well being.

10. We thoroughly vet our applicants to make sure our dogs go to the very best of people.

When applicants apply for one of our dogs we interview them, meet with them and their families, property check and ensure a 1 month trial is completed before we deem dogs "adopted".  

Please read more about our comprehensive adoption process under the "adoptions" tab.
 

OTHER FAQS:

What fees are involved if I rehome via NZCR?
There is no fee - no matter what kind of medical care the dog requires. If able, you are more than welcome to make a donation to the Rescue at any time. 

We do appreciate contributions to transport costs (if out of Canterbury) and you are able to do so.

Why do you place them into foster care? Can they go directly to a home?

We like to get to know the dogs, their quirks and personality traits and any issues that need to be attended to in order to find their very best match.  This takes time so we have one of our team members  foster them and consider what their "adopter requirements".  It also allows the dog to decompress between your home and their future home.

We also need time to complete any medical care, vaccines, de-sexing, dentals etc. while dogs are in foster care so that once dogs are adopted all their health issues have been attended to. 

We use this time to also work on training and behavioral matters while dogs are in foster care. Our fosters are a team of Chihuahua-knowledgeable experts. We also have a trainer on the team and many of our foster carers are experienced animal behaviorists and trainers. We are well-versed in sorting out any unsavory behaviors.  

Will I get updates?
We are happy to update you while the dog is in our foster care and let you know once they have been adopted.  

We also understand if you would prefer we did not provide any updates. Please let us know your preference and what suits you best. Some find that updates make the process more difficult and we understand this.

In terms of updates after adoption - We can note on the profile that you would like to receive updates. However, this ultimately is the choice of the new Adopter. All of our new owners/adopters are thoroughly vetted and home-checked. We are very strict with who we select as an adopter. However, some Adopters choose not to maintain contact and we respect their autonomy. Please note - we cannot breach the privacy details of the Adopter and provide any information without their consent.

Can you keep my details and reasoning private?

Absolutely! Please let us know your preference.

How quick is the process?

Once we receive your email and/or form, we aim to have the dog placed with one of our team members within a couple of days  to a week. We understand many would like to get under way ASAP.

Can I talk to someone at NZCR about rehoming - I'm not sure?

It is important to consider your options and be certain. We are happy to answer any queries you may have. Please email us and a Trustee will be in contact with you.

Do you take on more than one dog at a time?

Yes, we have rehomed pairs or multiple dogs prior. 

If the dogs are great together we seek homes for them both to go to. We only separate dogs if it is best for their mental or physical well-being.

Do all dogs have to go to Christchurch?

Our Trustees, experienced foster carers, dog trainer and our medical team (including Chihuahua specialist vet) are based in Canterbury. We transport all dogs coming into care, to our base here in Christchurch. We do not have any satellite rescues around other locations.

We understand it may be difficult to "let go" of the dog and have it move islands but we assure you, we are experienced in dealing with all types of rescue dogs and will take great care of them. We can also provide updates as noted above.

How do I get the dog(s) to the Trust?

As noted above - We transport all dogs coming into care, to our base here in Christchurch. We do not have any foster homes in other locations. 

If you aren't located close to Christchurch, we can assist with transport arrangements.

We use/recommend the following pet exporters:

The companies we use to transport dogs are very experienced in dealing with anxious animals and rescue dogs. These companies do all they can to ensure the trip is not only safe, but as comfortable as possible for the dog(s). 

By plane (limited road trips planned throughout the year):

Star Pet Travel:

Contact Betty and Desiree on 0800 PET TRAVEL 

Email: starpettravel@gmail.com 

See: http://starpettravel.co.nz/Information/about-star-pet-travel.html)

A4Dibble Pet Transport (by road) nationwide:

Contact Kirsty on (027) 344 9651 or via email on: a4dibbletransport@gmail.com

See: https://www.facebook.com/a4dibbletransport/

What about their possessions? What do I send with the dog?

We can send you an information sheet on what to include with the dog - please email us and we will provide the same.

I am going away for a set period of time, or entering emergency accommodation, can you foster my dog?

Sorry, we only take in dogs that have been surrendered legally to our rescue. We do not foster dogs for the public.  We have limited foster placements and need to ensure these are retained for the dogs that do not have a family or owner. 

We only take in dogs that have been surrendered and no longer have an owner. Sorry, no exceptions, you will need to contact a home-stay agency or kennels. You may also consider the SPCA boarding kennels or Pet Refuge NZ (Google for more details).

I am concerned about the welfare of a dog, what do I do?

Sorry, we are not an enforcement agency and only able to take in / assist dogs from the owner or Animal Shelter. If you have any concerns about the welfare of any animal please contact your local SPCA and Animal Control Department who will be able to investigate and uplift if appropriate.