Adopt a rescue dog

We’re fortunate to receive hundreds of applications at a time and make every decision with our dogs’ best interests at heart. Once you’ve completed your application form online, you should receive a confirmation email. If you haven’t seen it, please check your junk email in case it ended up there.

Our dogs receive a huge amount of interest, and our resources are limited, so we’re unable to respond to everyone. We’ll only be in touch if you meet the needs of the pet you’re interested in adopting (and they haven’t been matched already). We’ll also let you know within six weeks if you’re a good match for another dog at Woodgreen.

Please keep checking our website for new pets that come into our care. If you spot another potential friend, please complete another application.

You are welcome to reapply to adopt a specific rescue dog after six weeks if you are still looking.

Good luck with your search for a new pet!

Our adoption application process is entirely online. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can contact Pet Support for assistance by calling 0300 303 9333 any day from 8am until 4:30 pm (our lines are only closed on Christmas and Boxing Day). Please note that our dogs are not available for viewing by general visitors, but if you are matched with a dog, you will have the opportunity to meet them as part of the rehoming process.

You need to apply for a specific dog –

1. Look through the available dogs and carefully read their profile.
2. If you feel you are a potential match for that dog, you need to submit an application for that specific dog.
3. On each dog’s profile is a ‘Get Started’ button. Click this and complete the Registration Form.
4. Once complete, click ‘submit’ and then continue to complete the full questionnaire that follows.
5. If you have already completed a Questionnaire with us within the last six weeks, you do not need to do this again unless your circumstances have changed. However, you will need to complete the Registration Form each time you apply for a new pet.*
6. Our Rehoming team will assess your application to see if you meet the needs of the dog you’re interested in adopting. If you’re a match and first in the queue, we’ll call you to discuss the next steps. Unfortunately, we cannot reply to unsuccessful applicants due to our charity’s limited resources, but your ‘seeker form’ will stay active for six weeks. We’ll check it daily against other dogs who become ready for rehoming, and if there’s a potential match, we’ll be in touch.

Please be aware that you may need to visit our center in Cambridgeshire more than once, so having your own transport is important as we are not easily accessible by public transport. We also do not recommend taking pets on public transport for their first journey home with you.

*If we don’t have a suitable dog for you, we’ll ask you to keep an eye on our website for other dogs and submit a form for any you are interested in adopting. Please be aware that it can take longer to find a dog for applicants who are looking for a specific breed or a dog with particular characteristics.

Every decision we make in the best interests of our dogs. The dogs that come into our care have often suffered trauma, and need careful rehabilitation for issues such as aggression towards other dogs, nervousness around strangers and severe resource guarding (protecting possessions). We’re proud of our matching service and the success we’ve had in finding thousands of dogs a forever home, and a second chance at life. 

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, unless they live with someone of this age or above who can give permission, and also confirm that the household has permission to have a dog in their home. Whilst there is no upper age limit, we only match dogs with people who are able to meet the needs of the dog they want to adopt. 

It generally takes longer to rehome dogs with applicants who have children, particularly young children, but it is possible. 

We have rehomed dogs with new owners who live in flats, or homes where there’s no garden. Because although a garden is essential for some dogs, it’s not for others. 

Not everybody who applies can offer a home which provides the environment and support the dogs we have at that particular time. However, we have dogs coming into our care on a daily basis, and eventually leave for a new home. If you’re patient, we could find a dog that you can adopt. 

It costs £285 to rehome a single dog or £400 for a pair of dogs. This fee includes:

• Neutering (if required).
• First course of vaccinations.
• Flea and worm treatment.
• Microchipping.
• Four weeks’ free Petplan insurance.
• Safety bundle of a harness, ID tag and seatbelt.

We also offer free behavioural support for the rest of the dog’s life, along with advice on caring for other pets you may have.

Getting a dog is a big commitment, and usually takes weeks or months of research.

Woodgreen have plenty of useful dog advice to help you make an informed choice, including topics on getting a dog. We suggest you start by reading our article on what to think about before getting a dog and completing our dog breed quiz.

We also host a number of different events and courses that are suitable for almost everyone.

When you’re confident that adopting is something you wish to explore, you can begin your application for a rescue dog.

As a pet rescue charity, we can’t predict the type of dogs that come through our doors. So it’s impossible to say if we are likely to have a particular type of dog in the future.

If you have your heart set on a specific breed, we suggest approaching a rescue organisation which only focuses on that breed. A good place to start your research is the The Kennel Club.

In the meantime, feel free to visit our ‘Meet our dogs’ page where you can filter the dogs currently available.

It is quite rare to have puppies brought to us for rehoming. When they are, they’re rehomed very quickly, due to the huge demand we have for them.

Therefore it is unlikely that you will find a puppy to adopt at Woodgreen. But you are still welcome to apply to adopt a dog to let us know you’re looking.

When adopting a puppy, it is important to remember that they require a lot of patience, dedication and training. On Ask Woodgreen, we have provided virtual guides to puppy training to help new puppy owners with this hurdle.

If you really do want a puppy and can’t wait for a rescue, then read our advice article about getting puppies and what you should look out for.

As a pet rescue charity, we can’t predict which dogs come to us for rehoming. In the past, we have occasionally rehomed dog breeds associated with being good for people with allergies. But it is unusual, and if you are looking for a specific type of dog, it will take much longer for us to match one to your needs.

When looking for a hypoallergenic dog, it’s important to remember that one person’s allergies can vary greatly from another. An allergy towards dogs is not always caused by their fur and can actually be caused by saliva or dander (skin flakes).

Even a breed who is considered to shed very little could result in a reaction. If you have an allergy towards dogs, speak to your doctor first as they can offer advice specific to you that may help. If you have an allergy to dogs, you should spend a significant amount of time with a dog before you adopt or buy them, to see whether or not this interaction causes a reaction.