Our vision is a day when every Greyhound and Lurcher is free from risk or need

Homing hounds during the pandemic

Following the relaxation of some of the rules surrounding the coronavirus restrictions in England, Forever Hounds Trust has set out the following plan for rehoming dogs.

PLEASE NOTE ALL THESE ANTICIPATED STEPS ARE BASED ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE. THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON HOW THE INFECTION IS SPREADING DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN EACH STEP.

Whilst the virus is still active we will continue to use PPE and social distancing measures to protect you, our staff and volunteers.

We regret we cannot assess any of our dogs on their ability to live with a cat so for the time being we cannot accept any home offers with resident cats or other small, furry creatures.

Step 1 (from 29th March 2021)

• All activities requiring contact with the public will continue to be by appointment only so that only one person (household or support bubble) is in contact with a member of staff or key volunteer.

• We will continue with social distancing measures and using PPE for all meetings with the public. We will request the public to bring their own PPE to any meeting with us

• Handover of dogs will be outdoors wherever possible and local rehoming opportunities will be prioritised to avoid long journeys.

• Viewing prior to adoption should continue remotely.

• Adopters may attend a regional homing centre, as a single unit, by appointment to collect an animal

• Handover may take place indoors in a COVID-secure manner wearing face covering and maintaining social distance, if there is a behavioural or veterinary requirement for the dog. Otherwise handover should take place outside.

• When appropriate a dog may be taken by the regional homing team to a home to meet an existing dog outside.

•  A person relinquishing a dog may visit the regional kennels by appointment but must hand over the dog outside. In certain circumstances e.g. if the dog is unwell handover may take place inside in a COVID-secure manner wearing face covering and maintaining social distance.

Step 2 (target, but no earlier than 12th April)

• All our activities requiring contact with the public will continue to be by appointment only so that numbers are limited following a risk assessment to maintain COVID-security to prevent indoor mixing of different households.

• Handover of dogs will continue to follow the protocol and take place where possible outdoors.

• Adopters may attend a regional homing kennels to meet an animal by appointment. The meeting may take place indoors in a COVID-secure manner wearing face covering and maintaining social distance. The preference will always be for the meeting to take place outside.

Step 3 (target, but no earlier than 17th May)

• Handover of dogs may take place indoors by appointment with up to six people or from two households or support bubble.

• Adopters may collect a dog from one of our regional homing teams indoors in a COVID-secure manner.

Step 4 (target, but no earlier than 21st June)

• All restrictions removed. The use of appointments and face coverings is likely to continue to be advised.  We will return to homing dogs through our normal process for all areas

Your application will be kept for a period of 12 weeks following your telephone interview.  If we have not been able to match a dog to you after this period, all information gathered in connection with your enquiry will be destroyed in line with the General Data Protection Regulations and Forever Hounds Trust’s privacy policy. If you do wish to remain on our books after this 12-week period, please do let us know by emailing trish.stokoe@foreverhoundstrust.org