Barney

If you are interested in one of our dogs, please complete an adoption application form at:
https://hsedr.org.au/index.php/adoption/

At a minimum, we will expect that all of our dogs will be inside/outside dogs and will be treated as a valued member of the family.

If your family needs match the needs of the dog, we will call you to discuss and organise a mutually convenient time with you to undertake a fence/home check - and for the dog you are interested in to meet the rest of the family - both human and other animals.

If you feel that you would like to add the dog to your family, we will ask you to pay the adoption fee and the dog will commence a 4 week trial period - for all of you (both humans and pets) to make sure that you will all be happy living together. We will check in on you during this time and will be available to respond to any concerns you may have during this period.

If everyone is happy at the conclusion of the trial, we will transfer the microchip and provide you with any medical records and information we have on the dog you have adopted.

We will take the dog back into care at any time - if things do not work out - and we appreciate that sometimes - they just don't - for a number of reasons.

We will ask for a happy snap of the dog with their new family members for our adoption gallery and will ask whether we can use that in promoting our rescue on Facebook, the Internet or other promotional materials.

We want the process of adoption to be a happy and exciting time for you and your potential new family member and will work with you to make the experience as positive as possible.

AN OPEN LETTER TO APPLICANTS:
We understand that people are making an emotional investment when they apply to adopt a dog and that it is disappointing if you are not chosen. We don’t like disappointing people. It’s really hard to do but when there is only a single dog and many hopeful applications, it is inevitable that people will be upset. We would like to take this opportunity to explain our philosophy.

When we take on a dog, we make a commitment both to that dog and the former owners of that dog to find them their perfect next forever home. Our key consideration is whether that home is a good match for that dog. We are the only advocate the dog has and must put their needs ahead of applicants. Each dog has very different needs and personality and each home is different to the next.

Sometimes, people put their friends in touch with us or we are approached by our own friends or family about a particular dog. This is done with the best intentions and makes it even harder to say No but sometimes we must, as their requirements and the needs of the dog are not the same.

This isn’t a reflection of their dog ownership skills, or how we feel about them personally. Our decision is always based on what we believe is the best match for the dog. Not just any match - the best match!

Often, we have several or even many interested parties who would equally be a good match and it is exceedingly difficult to choose between them. Our decision is never based on our relationship with a potential adopter, or the number of times they have applied and missed out or whether they applied first, or the number of times or ways they’ve tried to contact us about a particular pet, but whether or not they are the BEST match available.

If you or someone you know is interested in any of the dogs at Hope Springs Eternal, please fill out an adoption application. Please do not take offence if you or your friends are not chosen - this only means that there was someone who was a better match. Not a better person, not a better dog owner, but a better match.

We believe there is a home for every dog and a dog for every home, so even if you haven’t been chosen before, please keep applying - the next one may be your perfect doggy match.