The vast majority of our dogs are based overseas in rescue shelters around Europe, so normally it’s not possible to meet them beforehand. We do provide you with lots of information, photos and videos to help you get to know them, and work very closely with our partner shelters to ensure we have lots of updates to share.

However, we do bring a small handful of dogs over to foster homes if and when they are available, to increase their chances of being noticed and subsequently, adopted. In these cases, you can of course meet the dog before adopting them.

…you have children, a cat, a home without a garden, another dog, a job? Yes! We don’t have strict rules that deny families the option to adopt, we assess each and every application on a case by case basis. This means that if you have children, cats, no garden, live in apartment, or have a full-time job, you can still apply to adopt and we can help find you the right dog and suggest achievable accommodations to support their integration. It is important that you can offer the dog in question the right lifestyle and environment for them to thrive in, so sometimes it might take a little longer to find a suitable dog than it would for a home without some of the above factors, but nothing is impossible! If you’re serious about rescuing a dog, we can’t emphasise the importance of patience enough.

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).

• Romania - £495

• Cyprus - £745

• Bosnia - £580

• UK - £350 (this applies only if the dog is being surrendered for rehoming again. It does not apply to dogs here as UK fosters, as we’re too small a charity to subsidise the transport costs*)

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

*If you’re unsure about the cost of a dog in the UK, check their profile next to ‘country of origin’.

Our routine veterinary preparation for each dog prior to travel to the UK is as follows. Your dog will have had their DHPPi vaccinations, which protect them against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and also leptospirosis. They will additionally be vaccinated against rabies, parasite treated (for worms, ticks, fleas) and microchipped, which we then register to your home address upon adoption. We also run routine blood tests for all our dogs to ensure they are negative for Brucellosis, Leishmaniasis, Anaplasmosis, Heartworm, Lymes Disease and Ehrlichia. Lastly, if they are old enough, they will be neutered before they travel. If they’re not old enough, as part of our adoption agreement we do ask this is organised by their new family later down the line.

Unfortunately, sometimes the dog you’ve applied for might not be the perfect match, and we may feel they’d thrive better in a different type of home. It wouldn’t be responsible for us to move forward with an adoption if we weren’t confident it was the right decision, even though we often wish we could, especially for our more overlooked residents! However, this doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be an excellent match for a different Underdog, so we’d love to suggest others who might be a more suitable fit for your family.

Our goal is always to set both you and the dog up for success, which is why we truly appreciate adopters who are open to considering other potential companions. We completely understand how disappointing it can be to hear that you’re not the right match for a dog you’ve fallen in love with, but please know that every decision we make is guided by what’s best for our dogs. Their long-term wellbeing has to come first.

From Cyprus, the dogs fly on a cargo flight from Larnaca to Maastricht, where they are then met by a team of licensed pet couriers who continue their journey with them by road and into the UK via ferry.

Our dogs from Bosnia and Romania travel solely by road, travelling throughout Europe with licensed pet couriers.

Quarantine is not required, due to the paperwork and high standard of veterinary care. All dogs travel with a pet passport and the necessary health certificates, allowing them to go straight home. It’s a long trip home, but we work with trusted transport companies who have years of experience and the dogs are so well cared for en route. Throughout the journey, you’ll also have frequent updates from Eve, our Head of Adoptions.

Yes! Every adopted Underdog comes with five weeks free pet insurance which we will set up for you upon arrival. You can choose to extend this policy if you like, or you can choose your own instead. We would recommend all adopters consider taking out insurance for their dogs as vet bills are so expensive, but we do understand that some people prefer to have a savings pot in case of emergencies.

Underdog has a brilliant and highly experienced team of behaviourists on hand to offer advice and support over the phone post-adoption should you need it. If you’d also like a call pre-adoption with them, that can be arranged.

Four weeks after your dog has arrived, your homechecker will be in touch to organise a follow up call, which allows you to touch base with us and discuss any challenges and successes. You will also have the contact number for Eve, our Head of Adoptions, and you’re welcome to reach out to her for support too, as and when.

We also ran a series of webinars with our amazing behaviourists which you can access for free here. If you need help finding good behaviourists and trainers in your area, we’re also very happy to do some research for you.

If sadly you can no longer keep your Underdog, we ask that you honour your adoption contract and contact us for rehoming support. We will always help with onward rehoming and kindly ask that our dogs are not passed onto other rescue centres. We’re not here to judge, we’re here to help, so please always reach out if you need support.

We’re always looking for foster families, so if you’re not 100% sure about adopting just yet, fostering is a great place to start! 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. You’re still taking on a big responsibility as a foster, so you have to be committed. 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 become a foster here.

To slow down. Go at their pace, take baby steps, and remember that you have years together - you don’t need to do everything and meet everyone within the first week.

When you adopt a dog, remember that everything they’ve ever known will change. Their environment, routine, smells, sounds and people. It will take time, patience, and understanding to help them adjust to a completely unfamiliar new home. Some of our dogs may still need help with house training and will need to learn how to be left at home on their own. It’s also important to consider the ongoing costs: vet bills, training classes, behaviourists, food, and supplies all add up. Dogs need a lot of exercise, we recommend at least two walks a day, along with brain games and mental enrichment to burn off both physical and mental energy. Be prepared to adjust your routine to suit them; they can’t be expected to know how to live in a house straight away. And yes, expect some sleep deprivation in the early days!

But here’s the special part. The love, loyalty, and joy they’ll bring will make it all worthwhile. Adopting a dog not only saves a life, but it fills your home (and heart) with laughter, companionship, and purpose. Once settled, a rescue dog will lift your spirits, improve your mental health, and remind you to appreciate the simple pleasures whilst you’re out exploring nature with them. They’ll accept you exactly as you are, love you unconditionally, and celebrate every return home as a triumph. They’ll become your most loyal friend and biggest fan. The journey isn’t always easy, but the rewards are absolutely worth it.