All of our dogs are living in foster homes so we can provide adopters with information on the dog’s personality, likes and dislikes etc. Our dogs are wormed, microchipped, have received at least their first vaccination and if old enough, are neutered. Visit Think First to read about some of the practicalities of dog ownership.

The first thing you will need to do is complete the adoption application form.  A volunteer will then contact you to discuss your situation and talk about any of our dogs which may be suitable for your home. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding feeding, exercise, training etc.

The second step is a home visit. This is when a volunteer will call to your home and meet you and your family. They will assess the security of the garden and where the dog will sleep etc. A home visit is necessary to match the right dog with the right home and gives you a chance to talk to someone face to face about any questions or concerns you might have.

Once the dog has been vaccinated, wormed and spayed/neutered (if over 6 months old) they are ready to be rehomed. You can also ask to meet the foster family and be introduced to the dog you want to adopt before you make a decision. Once you have signed the adoption agreement form you will be able to take your dog home.

Please remember that once the dog is in your home, Dogs in Distress will still be there to support you. If you have any concerns on how the dog is settling in etc, please contact us.

Please fill in the foster application form and return to us. A volunteer will then contact you to discuss your application.

If successful, you may offer to foster any dog that appears in the Urgent Action Needed section of the website. Alternatively, our Foster Co-ordinator will ask you to foster dogs which we feel may be suitable for your home.

Dogs in Distress will cover all veterinary costs and can supply food, bedding if you require it etc. All we ask from you is your time and love for these dogs - to offer them a safe and warm home until they go to their forever home.

Please contact Kathy (Forum name xxx or ph 086 3696413) if you have any questions regarding fostering.

Although each dog is different, here are some basic tips:

Introduce the two dogs on the lead on neutral territory. Perhaps take them for a long walk together in a park where your dog does not normally go.

Don’t force them to interact. Let them ignore each other if that’s what they want.

If one of them immediately tries to attack for no apparent reason, separate them and try again later in the day in a different location.

At home, make sure you remove any food/toys that they may fight over. Give them their own beds which may be put in separate rooms, until you know that they are okay together.

Try not to give one more attention than the other. Don’t get involved in any small fights as they need to sort themselves out and it is usually just a lot of noise and teeth gnashing.

Remember that there is always a period of adjustment when a new dog comes in to a home and there may be the odd argument, which you must try to ignore but these should decrease over time.

Until you can be sure that they get along fine, do not feed them together, do not to leave them alone together and make sure that you remove anything that they may fight over.

If you are still having problems we would suggest contact a qualified behaviourist.

1. Contact your local pound. By law, dogs found straying can be collected by a dog warden and taken to the pound. They will generally be kept there for only five days. Ring them every day to check if your dog has been found. If you have a photo, offer to post it to them or drop it off.

2. Leave your name, phone number and a description of your dog with the Garda Stations nearest to you. Every Garda station has a lost and found book, ask them to add the details of your lost dog to their book.

4. Check local vets, kennels and rescue centres to see if your dog has been handed in there.

5. Put up posters offering a reward (don't say how much) for the return of your pet, include a photo if at all possible. Place them in shops, take aways, vets, doctors surgeries, bus stops and anywhere that people gather.

6. Go to places that you regularly walked your dog. Visit building sites & schools. Always ask children, as they are most likely to notice a wandering dog.

7. List your dog in www.lostandfound.ie and on the Dogs in Distress Forum under Lost & Found

Excerpt from Irish Control of Dogs Act 1986;

13.—(1) Any person, other than a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, who finds and takes possession of a stray dog shall, forthwith—

( a ) return the dog to its owner, or

( b ) deliver the dog to a dog warden, or

( c ) detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found, and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog warden.

If you take the dog in you can keep it for 28 days without a licence, then the animal must be licenced and if you decide to keep/rehome the dog, ownership of the dog is not yours until a year and a day have passed. This does NOT apply to dogs adopted/rescued from pounds, only those taken in as strays.

Take the dog to a vet to scan him for a microchip (usually free of charge). Ring up local vets in the area and leave a description of the dog along with a contact phone number.

Place an ad in www.lostandfound.ie and www.petsireland.invisionzone.com

Bring the dog walking in the area that he was found in, in case anyone might recognise him.

Place an ad in the Evening Herald, Gumtree and Donedeal.

Make up posters and put them up around the area that the dog was found in.