Adopting an animal

Look through the animals we currently have looking for homes and see if there is one who matches your home and your lifestyle. When you find someone you would like to know more about, complete our matchmaking questionnaire and our rehoming caseworkers will take it from there.

They are all on our rehoming pages, and new animals arrive all the time.

We aim to reply within 72 hours. Our rehoming caseworkers are caring for the animals as well as working through enquiries, so please bear with us if you have not heard anything.

Keep an eye on the website, as new animals arrive all the time. You can also subscribe to updates and be emailed whenever a new animal is added.

If you have already been through the questionnaire but did not go on to adopt, we will still have your details on file — so if you spot another potential companion we can move through the process more quickly.

Sometimes, yes. Every animal is different, but it is always possible to reserve a new friend on the day you meet them.

Every animal is de-flead, wormed, microchipped, neutered where appropriate, vaccinated and checked by a vet during their time with us. Any dog who needs assessing is also seen by a behaviourist.

If an animal has only been with us a short while we may let them leave before all of that is finished, and arrange for the rest to be carried out later, either here or at one of our partner vets. Unlike animals from pet shops or free adverts, our worm and flea products are vet-supplied and every animal is supervised by visiting vets throughout their stay.

Our standard donation is £275 for a dog and £155 for a cat. For equines, please speak to our Equine Team.

We may adjust the fee if an animal is very old, or has a condition likely to cost money in the first few months after rehoming. You can pay by cash, card or cheque.

No. Some of the animals here are still being assessed and are not ready for adoption yet, and others are part of our animal sponsorship programme.

It works the other way too — not every animal available for adoption is on site. Some are staying with fosterers, and some are part of cases our community team is dealing with.

Most of the animals we care for go on to a happy future away from Oak Tree. Occasionally we meet one who, through no fault of their own, stays with us for a long time — because of their health, or particular behaviour needs. Whatever the reason, their welfare is our priority, and Oak Tree becomes their home. You can still be part of their life by sponsoring them.

We may carry one out if the home, or the animal's circumstances, mean there are unusual requirements. We sometimes bring a prospective dog along to the visit. It may happen before or after you choose a specific animal, depending on the circumstances.

Talk to us in advance. If we know transport is a problem we can often shorten the process, or help by delivering an animal to you.

It means the animal goes to their potential new owners for a foster period before the adoption is completed — so, all being well, it does go on to a full adoption. We only do this in exceptional circumstances, such as when a dog or cat has very specialist requirements.

Far from it. Most are here because their owner's circumstances changed unexpectedly, or because their training and behavioural needs were not met, or simply because someone did not get their pet neutered. We also take in a lot of animals bought on impulse from pet shops, off the internet, from farms or from free adverts. None of that is the animal's fault.

Do remember that dogs and cats have normal behaviours they need to express — toileting, making a noise, scratching, chewing and climbing among them. We can work with you so you know how to fit those into your life, and we always undertake to take an animal back into our care if things do not work out.