I've put in an application form what happens next


Thank you for your application.

1st please add our email address info@b-a-r-k.co.uk otherwise there is a chance any replies will go to your spam folder.

Did you check you are within our rehoming area.  If you are not within 8 miles of the kennels (and taking into account current Covid restrictions within England)  you application can not be taken further.

What will you do with my application?

Once we've received your application the first thing we will do is check you are within our rehoming area.  Things are difficult at the moment and the area we can rehome animals to is shrinking.  Hopefully you checked out our Things to consider before rehoming page, before putting in your application. Sadly if you are outside our area we will be unable to proceed further with your application on this occasion.  We get a lot of application but we will try to get back to you to advise you are outside our rehoming area.

If you are within our rehoming area we will then start the difficult process of going through all the applications for a particular animal.  This can take up to two weeks so please be patient.

Once we have a shortlist of applicants we would normally invite them in for a visit.  At the moment this is not possible.  Dog rehoming will not go ahead until current restrictions are lifted.    It is possible other adoptions may be able to go ahead, however it would mean the first time you got to see your new pet was once it was delivered to you.  These type of adoptions will be managed on a case by case basis. Currently guideline states all pets have to be delivered to a new home.

What does it mean if I am not chosen?

You will get an email from us.  Although we don't generally go into the specific reasons why you've not be successful on this occasion,  it is highly likely it is just down to the pure volume of applicants.  Don't let that put you off applying for a different animal you think is suitable.  Please consider if you have specific requirements, for example child and dog friendly, it is likely to be a much sort after pet.

So how do you decide?

That is a difficult one to answer. On the form their are questions that give us an insight into the type of animal you are looking for, we use those as a starting point.  Our top priority is the animals needs.

Will you keep my application on file?

If you are successful in rehoming one of our animals your application will be attached to our copy of the adoption paperwork.  If you are not successful you application will be destroyed before or when the animal goes to its new home.

Can you let me know what other animals might be suitable?

With the amount of enquiries compared to the amount of animals we get in this would be a mammoth task. We ask that you keep a check on our website for any possible matches.

I've applied for loads of animals and keep getting rejected?

Fortunately/sadly we just don't have enough animals to go around.  One recent dog had over 70 applications, 10 kittens had over a hundred, both included many who had applied before.  We take each application as a fresh application.

Lastly Please read the small print

We try to be a flexible rescue when it comes to rehoming.  We don’t have blanket restrictions on age, having or not having a garden, whether people are at home or not.  At the very core of our rehoming is finding the right animal for the right home.  Not every cat can live inside, not every cat will get on with other animals or can live with children, not every dog can live with other dogs, not every dog can live with cats or small furries, not every dog can live with children or be left alone, it isn’t about whether your children are awesome with animals, it is about whether the animal is awesome with children, some dogs will clear a 3 foot fence, some will have problems living upstairs.  Our policy is to find the right match for the right adopter.  Many adopters get angry and frustrated when they are not successful, often this is because they believe this is the perfect animal for them, others havent read the needs of the animal correctly and the animal just isn’t a suitable match.  It doesn’t mean they aren’t able to offer an excellent home to an animal, but sometimes it just isn’t the one they’ve set their heart on.

Social media is full of comments of how difficult it is to adopt from rescues.  In the main it is down to lack of suitable animals.  Don’t judge your desire to have ane animal by their photos, consider whether you have what the animal needs.  We all just want it to be right and the very best chance of the adoption working forever.