adoption process
CatsAll the cats are currently in Romania - we will only bring them to the UK as and when we find a suitable forever home. Please note that we currently only rehome within Scotland
For each application we will go through a thorough adoption application questionnaire with you making sure that we have all the necessary information we need to start our process and look at potential match you with a suitable cat - this may or may not be the cat you initially inquired about as sometimes there may be a better suited cat. We will always aim to look at best suitability when looking at each adoption application. You can expect a call back to your application within 7-10 days usually, however this may take a little longer at peak times when our volunteers are exceptionally busy. Should you be in any doubt as to whether your application has been received you are welcome to send us an email to check and we will reply as soon as we can. Please note we do also usually send an initial reply via email so do keep an eye on your spam folder in case our email goes into this in error. We will usually always plan a call with you in advance, this will also be done via email.
All of our cats are indoor cats currently, and we will only look to home them as indoor cats for the rest of their lives, for safety reasons. If you can offer a suitable indoor only home for one or more then please read our adoption process carefully before completing the adoption application form. The first step in the process will be a coordinator call back to go over your application and gather more information about you and your home to ascertain initially if the cat chosen will be a good match, at this point another cat may be suggested pending a homecheck. If you are happy to proceed, the next step is a homecheck with a volunteer. Depending on which area you live this may take a few days or upwards of a week to organise, the volunteer will contact you directly to arrange a suitable date and time - we will require all household members to be present for this. The purpose of this home visit is to firstly make sure that your home is going to be suitable for the chosen cat- does it offer enough space for the cat to have its own area if needed, are there already too many pets in the home and does it offer what the cat needs? All essential questions to be answered that one of our volunteers will assess on our behalf and pass back. The homechecker may not necessarily be the coordinator dealing with your cat, therefore please do not expect a decision on if your application is successful at this stage, this will come via the coordinator in a call back within a few days of the homecheck depending on how quickly the information is returned to the rescue. There may be recommendations for improvements either within the home, such as a safety gate to be fitted at the top or bottom of the stairs, fire guard to be installed, especially for any kittens or curious cats, or any other measures required to keep the cat safe. For each cat safety is our paramount concern. When you first take your cat home after collecting, this must be done via a secure cat carrier (this must not be a mesh type as they are not escape proof) which must be taken into the safe room on arrival. We will always advise having a door between your adopted cat and the main door out of the property. For example please contain safely in the kitchen, lounge etc before answering your front door. Cats will find the smallest space to get out and even the most settled of cats will react differently when scared and frightened. For safety reasons all our cats will only be rehomed to suitable indoor only homes. If you are unable to meet with these safety recommendations then a Romanian Cat is not for you.
Once a homecheck is completed and returned, you will receive a call to discuss further. You may have questions from the homecheck this is the time to ask these. It is at this stage you may be formally offered a cat for adoption. In order to reserve that cat (meaning we will no longer deal with any other enquiries, and the cats profile removed accordingly) we will ask for a non refundable deposit of at least £200 to be paid to us via PayPal or via Bank Transfer within 24 hours of your call back. The balance of the Transport Donation of £395 per cat (as at October 2021) will be required to be paid within 7 days from then or as advised by the coordinator if the transport is sooner than 7 days. Please note our transport donation may be subject to change at any time due to increased transport and customs costs, which will be required to be covered in full by an adopter. The transport donation covers the transport costs from Constanta to England, and a a contribution to the costs from England to Scotland. The transport donation also contributes towards the customs export/import charges and towards the preparation and passport costs for each cat. For all cats, the Microchip detail will be registered automatically with Identibase before the cats arrive, under a dual registration. The main details into the adopters name and contact details however with the extra security of always having the rescue contact details on too For example should you move and forget to change your details and your cat goes missing, we would always be contactable in this instance. Our cats start their journey in Contanta heading first to Bucharest to meet the main transport van then onwards across Europe. They travel in style in a DEFRA inspected and regulated vehicle which has an onboard Nanny present throughout their entire journey to the UK ensuring they have food and water and lots of attention for the duration. Typically it takes around 36 hours from the Romania to the UK. Once they arrive to the UK our cats spend 48 hours in a Traces Kennel in Nottinghamshire. They receive excellent care and attention during their stay ensuring they are happy and relaxed ahead of their onward journey to their final destination in Edinburgh. Our rescue volunteers travel to Nottinghamshire from Scotland to collect our precious cargo. We use an air conditioned and fully ventillated van, with specialist designed built in transport crates for safety. Our volunteer has an APHA Type 1 Transporter Licence, and the vehicle is fully serviced and insured. The animals are given lots of attention and treats during their last journey home. The cats have toys, litter trays and beds to keep them comfy and the dogs have a comfy Scruffs bed to ensure they feel safe and secure plus treats, snuffle mats and lots of cuddles at the many stops on the drive North. Our crates are spacious and secure ensuring our passengers arrive safe and sound to their adopters. On the Adoption Day: There will be a central meeting point in East Lothian that we will ask all adopters to travel to. All details of place to collect, timings etc will be advised in writing by the rehoming coordinator and you must ensure to bring your secure cat carrier with you. The adoption contract will be available for signing on the collection day and your pet passport will be provided and explained fully to you . All our cats are microchipped, blood tested for (FIV) Feline Immunodeficiency Virus/(FIP) Feline Infectious Peritonitis, vaccinated, flea and worm treated and will be neutered (where possible) before arriving unless there is an age or health restriction. In addition to the above each and every cat is given rescue back up for their entire life, meaning if you are unable to keep your adopted cat for whatever reason, the cat must be returned to the care of the rescue and never sold or transferred into anyone else’s care. We hope that with our entire adoption process we are safeguarding that the cats we rehome will be well balanced, good mannered and who will have a very successful transition into their new homes. |
"Although we knew we wanted a rescue dog, we did not set out to adopt a Romanian one. From my first contact with ARC I felt confident that they knew what they were doing and had the dogs’ best interests at heart at all times." |
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