Our policies

Channel 4’s The Dog House, filmed at Woodgreen, offers a fascinating insight into how we match homeless dogs with perfect new owners. However, what you see on TV is only a snapshot of each dog’s story.

Every dog who arrives at Woodgreen is unique, with their own background. Some need urgent medical treatment; others might need behavioural training. And some just need love and care while we find them a forever home. Of course, it isn’t possible to show the full extent of this support in an episode of The Dog House. We get to know each dog in intricate detail, sometimes over weeks, and the rehoming process itself often takes a number of conversations and meetings – there’s a lot that goes into giving each dog the best chance of a happy future!

We don’t exclude anyone from adopting a pet based on blanket policies. For example, we don’t automatically turn away families with certain aged children, people who live in flats or don’t have a garden. We do not have an upper age limit for rehoming.

We’re incredibly grateful for every rehoming application at Woodgreen, but, unfortunately, we’re unable to respond to everyone. We receive a huge amount of enquiries and our resources are limited, so we can only contact people who meet our pets’ needs in the best possible way.

We aim to increase society’s awareness of their responsibility towards animals. We want to be first in people’s minds for promoting responsible pet ownership and exemplary animal welfare in the UK and further afield.

We will deliver education that is ‘inclusive for all’. We will educate children, young people and their families to improve the welfare of animals currently living in their homes and neighbourhoods – helping them to enjoy their relationship with pets and to become responsible pet owners in the future.

We will provide relevant knowledge, skills and preventative veterinary care through our outreach service.

Objectives

To establish Woodgreen as the primary point of contact for rehoming, advice, support and guidance relating to pets and pet ownership.

To improve the welfare and health of companion animals by providing high quality, sustainable support, education and engagement programmes both in our Centres and in our communities.

Policy

All activities offered by the Charity’s staff and volunteers will be non-judgmental and tailored to the customer’s needs. Where a pet has a home and it’s in the animal’s best interest to keep it there, the Charity will endeavour to ensure a successful outcome.

All presentations and materials will reflect the ethical views of Woodgreen Pets Charity. Woodgreen will ensure that up-to-date and achieveable behaviour, training and welfare advice is given.

Review

This Policy will be reviewed biennially by the Animal Welfare Committee.

November 2017

We give homeless and vulnerable pets the chance of a positive future, who would otherwise have nowhere else to go. Our non-selective approach means that we deal with a wide range of pets, and as a result we receive some with serious medical conditions or behavioural problems.

We do all we can to help pets overcome serious medical conditions, severe behavioural problems, or both, but sometimes a decision has to be made about putting them to sleep. Such decisions are never taken lightly or in isolation. Our team of experts assess each pet’s quality of life and, for those with behavioural problems, the risk to other pets and people.

We recognise that animals are sentient beings, and has the view that quality of life is more important than quantity of life. The charity believes that animal health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

We review the emotional and physical needs our pets have when we receive them into our care. If the pet cannot be safeguarded, it will be assessed and reviewed again. If they are found to have untreatable or serious medical problems, or behavioural issues so severe and extreme that we believe we will be unable to safely rehome them, then euthanasia will be considered.

Decisions will be made in a timely fashion, in order to prevent prolonged physical or emotional suffering in line with our Animal Care Policy.

The charity will not knowingly put the public or other animals at risk by rehoming animals considered as a potential threat to safety.

If a banned type of dog is identified, we are legally obliged to euthanise in order to comply with the law, taking required advice from the police. There are five banned dog types in Great Britain under the Dangerous Dogs Act:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• XL Bully

All pets are euthanised humanely and with empathy in accordance with the Animal Care Policy and current Veterinary practice. All pets euthanised at Woodgreen are cremated.

Appeal

If a decision is contested, the matter will be referred promptly to the Director of Care and Veterinary Services. Where appropriate, the matter may be referred to the Pet Services Committee.

Review

This Policy will be reviewed biennially by the Pet Services Committee.

Read the 2022 report.

Read the 2021 report.

Read the 2020 report.