Adoption and Fostering
Explained
– Make a one off Donation –
– Make a Donation Monthly –
FOSTERING
Fostering is an incredibly important part of the rescue process. The foster families we work with play a vital role in helping dogs transition from kennels and shelters into safe, loving homes.
As a foster family, you will help a dog settle and adapt to life in a home during what is often the biggest and most overwhelming change of their life. Many arrive scared, vulnerable, and unsure of the world around them, and your patience, kindness, and support can make all the difference.
For this reason, we are looking for families who are committed to truly helping these animals — not simply looking for a “free dog.” We need people who can offer stability, understanding, and a safe place for as long as needed, while working closely with our team to support the dog every step of the way.
Without foster families, rescue backup would be impossible.
As a fosterer, you will be expected to provide space, food, daily care, and close collaboration with the organisation to help the dog adjust and prepare for a loving and, most importantly, suitable forever home.
We greatly value honesty, communication, mutual understanding, and teamwork. In return, the rescue can provide insurance cover and support with approved medical expenses.
There is no bigger reward then seeing an animal you helped – thriving in a forever home!
If you are interested in learning more about fostering and the process involved, please email us — we would love to hear from you.
ADOPTION
Adopting a rescue dog is a lifelong commitment and a truly rewarding experience. By choosing to adopt, you are not only giving a dog a second chance, but also helping us continue to rescue and care for other vulnerable animals in need.
Our dogs have often come from difficult backgrounds and may need time, patience, and understanding as they adjust to life in a home. We are therefore looking for adopters who are committed to providing a safe, loving, and permanent home for their new family member.
All potential adopters will go through our adoption process to ensure the best possible match for both the dog and the family.
We are always happy to offer guidance and ongoing rescue support before and after adoption.
Adoption Fee
The adoption fee for all dogs is £575.
As a volunteer-run, non-profit rescue supporting a large number of dogs in kennels and shelters across the UK and Macedonia, we rely heavily on adoption fees and donations to continue our work. These contributions allow us to pay for kennels, veterinary care, food, transport, and ongoing support for the animals in our care.
Without adoption fees, we simply would not be able to continue rescuing dogs and giving them the second chance they deserve.
The adoption fee helps cover only a small portion of the considerable costs involved in preparing each dog for a safe journey and a new life, including:
- International transport and travel arrangements
- Travel documents and customs-related expenses
- Veterinary examinations and border vet fees
- Anti-parasite treatments
- Microchip and passport
- Rabies and core vaccinations
- Kennel accommodation and daily care
Every adoption not only changes the life of the dog you welcome into your home, but also helps us continue saving others who are still waiting for their chance.
If adopters are unable to take the dog home immediately, we kindly ask them to cover the monthly kennel costs until the dog is able to join them.
HOW DO I APPLY TO FOSTER OR ADOPT A DOG?
To apply to adopt or foster a dog, please fill in the application form (can be found bellow on the button TO APPLY CLICK HERE). To request additional information please send us an email: info@strayswithoutborders.org.uk
Only one application needs to be completed to be considered for any dog.
Please ensure that your entire family has decided, prior to applying for a dog who is still in Macedonia, that you are fine with not meeting the dog before adopting/fostering.
The majority of our dogs are kennelled in Macedonia and only travel to the UK once they have found their forever / foster homes.
If a dog is fostered or kennelled in the UK, we can arrange for you to meet the dog before adoption.
We can home our dogs to families with children under 8 years old, ONLY IF you have good dog experience.
If you would like to find out more about fostering before applying, please send us an email – we’re always happy to have a chat!
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Once your application has been submitted one of our volunteer home checkers will be in contact with you in the following days, if your application seems suitable. They will arrange a date and time for a ‘home check’ where they will go through your application answers with you and have a virtual tour of your house and garden via video call.
If you pass the home check, you can then reserve a dog by paying £100 of the adoption fee (non-refundable). The remaining adoption fee will be paid, and contract sent, closer to the time of transport.
The dog will then travel to the UK via a professional animal transportation van at the next available opportunity. We generally have one transport run a month. The dog will be delivered to their new forever home.
If the dog is already in the UK, you pay the full adoption fee, and sign the contract, if you pick the dog up ASAP. We can arrange for you to meet the dog before you take him/her home.
Clarification:
The actual expenses for all dogs are not always the same.
The cost estimation is an average considering all expenses that need to be done for the dog. Any extra or fewer costs will be balanced out by the rescue.
For example,
Some dogs need extra medical care, some dogs have been neutered before being rescued, some dogs have extra expensive treatment for some diseases that can be cured, extra other vet costs, puppies need 3 core vaccines, unlike adult dogs who need one yearly, depending on the transport company available at the time the expenses also vary, etc.
Additional costs:
- Dogs that are not travel-ready but adopters want to reserve in advance or need to postpone the travel of a dog who is travel-ready for X reasons coming from the adopter, the adopters will need to cover the additional kennel costs until the dog can travel.
- Additional stay in kennels in the UK that happened because of the adopters is extra costs covered by adopters.
- Adopters who are unable to pick up the dogs from the kennels/meet point need to cover the extra transport costs. (The rescue can try and help arrange additional transport but does not guarantee that it can be always provided, the adopter needs to be ready to pick up the dog or be able to arrange transport for the dog or pay the additional costs if the rescue arranges the transport).
