Dear Prospective Owner

Thank you for your enquiry regarding offering a home to a golden. This letter is to give you some idea on how I run the re-homing service. If by any chance it took a long time to get this I apologize; I seem to be always running somewhere. If you ring and I say I am busy and have to answer the other phone you now know why. It is not because I don’t want to talk to you.

. The re-homing service is voluntary; I do not get any financial support  from any of the breed clubs. I actually spend quite a lot of money of my own. I rely on donations from the public and welcome any donation to help with the work. 

We have no kennels. I am very lucky to have so many friends and helpers who will foster dogs and do home visits and follow up visits when needed. The way it works is that when I have a dog to rehomed - I match up the home to the dog not the other way around. If you are still interested read on.

Most of the dogs that need to be  rehomed are victims of today’s society. People losing their house, relationships splitting up, buying a puppy which was not properly socialized - puppy farm pups especially will not often get the right start in life. If it is a young dog, I will sometimes buy the pup from the owners, just so the pup has a chance of getting a real home where it is wanted rather than someone wanting a cheap dog and passing it on. Worse still a PUPPY FARMER looking for cheap STOCK!!!! If dog has a problem I try to correct it before re-homing the pup. I tell the new owner all that I know about the dog. The reason you will have come to me is that you want to give a rescue dog a home – not to obtain a ‘cheap’ pedigree dog. The pedigree stays in the dogs file, with me – it will NOT be passed on to the new owner. These dogs cannot be bred from in the future.  There is really informative book, it is called ‘Second Chance’ it explains about living with a rescue dog.

Once you have taken on a rescue dog, I try my best to help you. Your donation is not for the dog but to the rescue. This means it is put in the ‘pot’ for rescue and cannot be refunded. If anything happens and you cannot continue to give the dog a home - the dog comes back to rescue and you must not  re-home this dog again yourself. It is up to the rescue to re-home a dog and you are in breach of the contract if you part with a dog you have agreed on to give a home.

There is a FIVE POUNDS administration fee this will keep you on the list for approximately six months. If you like to come and visit me, make an appointment.

If you have a problem and would like me to come to visit you, I will be willing to do so but I will have to charge for my time.

Laurina Blankenspoor (Mrs.)

Do you have a garden, is it dog proof? This does not mean you use your garden as an exercise area a dog needs a walk.

Do you work and if so how many hours per day are you away from your home?  This is a question for all of the people involved in offering a home to a golden.

Do you think you can afford to be owned by a rescue golden? Please do not forget that you not always know the full history of the dog. My advice is to people insure the dog to cover vets fees. I will however relay anything I know of the dog. The pedigree papers will remain with the rescue.

Do you have children, grandchildren – how many and of what ages?

Do you live near a school – do you have children visiting? Please give me as much information as you can this will make me choosing you as a prospective owner much easier and I am less likely to get it wrong.

Do both partners work and if so how many hours?

Can you take the dog to work?

Do you have someone coming in during the day to let the dog out?

Do you work shifts?

Holiday’s -  will you be able to afford kennels or have someone to look after the dog while you are away?

Can you take two dogs?

What age and sex would you prefer if you had a choice?

People don’t like this question but I have to ask – what is your age?

If anything were to happen to you, would your children have the dog?  Have you made arrangements or thought about this? – please think about it and  make provisions for this in your will.

Can you give me any references; kennels you used before, your vet or maybe someone that knows me.

Please add below any information that will help me assess the suitability of your home for one of my lovely rescued dogs.  This is your opportunity to tell me why you can offer a dog a home and what it would gain from being with you.