Pet Adoption at the Rainbow Rehoming Centre

All our animals are waiting to be adopted by a loving family. If you feel you can give a dog or a cat the good home that they need we can help you adopt a pet from the Rainbow Rehoming Centre.

Adopting a pet couldn't be easier but as it is a big responsibility we hope you will be patient while we guide you through the adoption procedure.

When you first come to the RRC you can talk to a volunteer about the kind of pet you would like to adopt. The volunteer will ask you some basic questions on the type or size of pet you would like, if everyone in your household to happy to take on the pet, any health risks or allergies, the ages of young children and will arrange for a home visit to check the suitability of your property.

Choosing a Pet
On your visit to the RRC you can interact with the animals and see if there are any you immeditaly like. If you like we can arrange for you to walk a dog so you can get to know it better before making your decision. You don't have to choose a pet immediately and you can come back to look as often as you like. When you do see the pet for you, tell a volunteer and they will book the animal for you. The volunteer will then take your details and arrange for a home visit to your property before you can take the animal home.

An RRC volunteer will visit your home at the arranged time. While there you can discuss where the dogs will be held during the day and a night, the scope the animal will have to move about e.g. enclosed garden, pen, house and how you plan to provide it with adequate exercise. Carefully consider how secure the animal will be in your premises and if there is any danger with busy roads, other animals such as horses, sheep, cattle etc and if there is any risk to children or adults and property such as garden structures and planting. It is largely up to you how you ensure thesafety of new new pet but the RRC discourage tying the pet up or locking in confined spaces for long periods of time.

On the day that you collect your new pet you will be asked to sign the RRC's Terms and Conditions and make a payment of STG£50 (cash or cheque) for a dog and STG£30 for a cat. If you decide to take two cats then you get them for the reduced fee of STG£45. This payment pays for the veterinary checks and treatment. All animals are spayed or neutering before they are released to their new owners. If the animal is still too young to be neutered you will be asked to call the RRC when the animal is 6 months old and we will arrange an appointment for you with one of the vest listed below. This is provided free once you have paid the initial donation fee when you first collect your pet.Veterinary Surgeons used by the RRC include:

St. Elmo's, Muff. Tel: 00 353 77 84411
Whitehouse Veterinary Clinic, Whitehouse Road, Derry. Tel: 028 7126 2596
Drumahoe Veterinary Clinic, 4 Ardlough Road, Londonderry. Tel: 028 7131 1448

In addition all animals are given their required injections, treated for worms and fleas and microchipped. You will be given all the required paperwork to take with you and your contact details will be checked to ensure we can get in touch with you again if necessary.When the paperwork is complete you can then take your new pet home. Be sure that you are fully prepared for the new addition to your family and come prepared. Please bring a lead and collar with you if you are picking up a dog or bring a suitable container if you are taking a cat. The pet will most likely be nervous when it is first taken from the shelter so comfort it and make it feel welcome by offering small food items such as dog biscuits or a toy. If you already have another pet at home introduce them carefully and on neutral territory if possible. Your new pet will take time to settle into its new home. Please be patient with the animal and ensure you lay basic ground rules early on. A dog will benefit from training and local dog trainers Jeannie and Austin Barrett can provide a dog training regime. The Barretts provide advice on dog traning every Friday on Radio Foyle at 4.30pm.

We love to see our rescue animals find a loving home and live a long and happy life. After a few months we may ring you to see how the pet is doing. If however you do have any problems with your new pet please call us and we will do our best to advise you. As part of our Terms we agree to take back any unwanted pets if your circumstances change or if the pet does not settle into its new home. Equally if you do wish to pass the pet onto another owner please keep us informed so we know the animal is safe and well. And don't forget you can write to us anytime by emailing us