If you find yourself in the position of considering rehoming your Ridgeback this section deals with some of the most frequently asked questions from people in your position.
Firstly, there is absolutely no shame if circumstances beyond your control force you to surrender your Ridgeback to us for rehoming. Like you, our primary concern is only for the welfare of your Ridgeback.
We understand that it can be a heartbreaking time for you, so our first option will be to see if we can help to find a solution that enables you to keep your Ridgeback.
However, if after our initial discussion, we both agree that rehoming is the only option available we will send you a set of forms to complete, this is not through love of bureaucracy, but so that we have ALL details legally declared in one place.
We will need current photographs of your dog, medical history, microchip details and a summary of your Ridgeback's behavioural personality.
In an ever more litigious society, it is important for the protection of both parties that you fully disclose any excessive behavioural traits, aggression and biting incidents.
Depending on the individual circumstances we may then arrange for one of our Trustees or supporters to visit and assess your dog.
Normally rehoming will involve you bringing your Ridgeback to our facility at Rosehill Farm so that once they are settled in we can further assess each dog and match their attributes & personalities to the waiting list of potential adopters.
We can, for those who cannot easily travel to our facility, organise the transportation of your dog. We would normally expect you to contribute to the cost of this.
We actively discourage "home from home" adoption as experience has shown that it is very seldom successful, we also have grave reservations, again born of experience, about the rehoming of Ridgebacks via social media and internet-based trading sites as they can and do lead to totally unsuitable people gaining ownership of a Ridgeback. The mess created has a habit of ending up back with us to sort out.
Sometimes owners are reluctant to let their dog go "into kennels" and it can be reassuring to know that the kennels at Rosehill Farm are in a £1,000,000 plus purpose-built building, that has underfloor heating & full climate control, where the individual kennels are five times the size required by the Authorities. All the Ridgebacks are handled and cared for 24 hours a day by people with over 36 years experience of the breed, backed up by immediate veterinary access to a practice that has also been involved for over 36 years. All the Ridgebacks are walked three times a day with access, along with other Ridgebacks, to some 40 acres of our own land
Please remember:
We cannot accept cross-bred dogs.
We are a charity, our only source of income is donations from our supporters. The average cost to us of rehoming a Ridgeback is currently £395.
We would like to think that every dog surrendered to us would come with a donation, but if your circumstances do not permit this, it is not compulsory, for us it is far more important that we protect the welfare of your Ridgeback
If you would like to talk to us about surrendering your Rhodesian Ridgeback into the Welfare Trust's care for rehoming then email Rich Watts, our Chairman - richard.watts@rrwt.org
