Questions?

Your dog

Can I meet my Underdog before adopting? Our dogs needing homes are currently in rescue centres around Europe so you are not able to meet them before adopting. We can, however, provide you with lots of information, photos and videos.

Will my Underdog be vaccinated? Your dog will be fully vaccinated, microchipped, defleaed and dewormed, it will also have been blood tested for common diseases and had a fit to travel examination. If your Underdog is from outside the UK, they will travel with the relevant paperwork.

Will my Underdog be neutered? All of our adult dogs will be neutered as part of our adoption package, puppies will not be neutered but this is something we ask all adopters to do when your dog is old enough.

Your circumstances

I have children, can I adopt an Underdog? Yes absolutely! The Underdog team will match you to a dog we feel will be best suited to your family. Not all of our dogs can live with children but once your have submitted an adoption form we will have all the information we need to help you find the right dog. We can also provide you with lots of information and resources to teach your children how dogs should be treated.

I live in a flat, can I adopt an Underdog? Yes! Not all of our dogs would be suited to living in a flat but many can, we understand that all of our adopters have different circumstances and will help you find a dog that is suitable for you and your home.

I don’t have a garden, can I adopt an Underdog? Yes! Some of our dogs would prefer to live in a home with a garden but many would be happy without as long as they get out for regular walks and have lots of physical and mental stimulation.

I have a cat, can I adopt an Underdog? Yes! A number of our Underdogs have been tested with cats and we can provide you with advice about introducing your new dog into a home with an existing cat.

I have another dog, can I adopt an Underdog? Yes! Nearly all of our dogs needing homes are able to live with other dogs, this will be listed on their profile.

The adoption process

How does the adoption process work? Find out how our adoption process works, here.

How does the homecheck work? Our homechecks are carried out via video link (usually Skype or FaceTime), they tend to last around one hour and allows us to ensure your dog will be a good match for you and your family. It’s also a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have.

How much does it cost to adopt an Underdog? Our adoption contribution varies depending on where your dog comes from and covers the cost of their transportation and veterinary care. We don’t offer payment plans unfortunately and the adoption cost needs to be paid in one sum (minus the adoption deposit). Regrettably our costs have recently risen due to the impacts of COVID19 and Brexit.

  • Romania - £495

  • Cyprus, Bulgaria - £745

  • *China - £1600

  • Bosnia - £580

  • France - £495|

  • Further afield - Occasionally we rehome dogs from other countries under special circumstances. For these dogs, the costs are calculated case by case.

    *Costs from China are naturally higher due to the length of the journey, which involves three flights and an over-ground courier to bring the dogs home. However, since the pandemic the costs have inflated further, at one point peaking at almost £3000 per dog. We have made every effort and considered every option available with our partners in China to be able to offer the lowest adoption fees possible, but we appreciate the cost may still be prohibitive for some. We’re too small a charity to be able to subsidise the adoption fees so we hope you can understand why it’s still higher than the other countries.

What support do you offer once I have adopted an Underdog? The Underdog has a brilliant and highly experienced team of behaviourists on hand to offer advice and support before and after you have adopted a dog.

Will my Underdog be insured? Yes! Every adopted Underdog comes with 5 weeks free pet insurance which we will set up for you prior to their arrival.

Fostering a dog

What does fostering entail? Sometimes we need foster homes for dogs following an emergency situation, or if for exceptional circumstances their forever home has had to give them up for rehoming. As an Underdog foster you are offering a dog in need a patient and understanding home until their perfect forever family can be found. We do ask that fosters are flexible, able to care for a dog for an extended period of time, and agree to keep the Adoption Team updated with their progress. As with an Underdog adopter, you’ll have access to our behaviourist network to help support you through your experience. You can sign up to be a part of our fostering network here.

Do I have to pay to foster? We don’t ask our fosters to pay for the transportation fees, but it’s important to note that bringing a dog over to the UK costs us in excess of £500 so if you’re able to make a donation that is of course gratefully received. Please be aware that we do not pay people to foster and basic costs of looking after the dog are the responsibility of the foster. 

Still have questions? Contact us.