Thinking about adopting an older dog?

We are regularly asked to take in older dogs.
Unfortunately not many people come to us specifically asking for an older dog which means they can be difficult to re-home.

With dogs over 10 years of age, the longer they spend in a rescue and the older they get, the less chance they have of finding a permanent home where they would get sole attention.
O.K. - any dog in our rescue, especially an older one, is not going to be kept shut up in kennels.ill live in a foster home and get the best life we can offer but it is not the same as having a home of its own.

There are two main concerns expressed by people who are considering an older dog.
One is the fact that they may not have the dog for very long and the other the possibility of mounting veterinary costs that owning an older dog may entail. There is no guarantee about the former, however under certain circumstances we can assist with the latter though our 'CollieLaw Scheme'

Taking on an older dog can bring special rewards to those altruistic enough to want to help them.
They may sometimes be rather set in their ways but they often emanate an ease with the world around them, a relaxed attitude to life which can be less demanding than that of their younger brethren.
Many older Border Collies, particularly retired farm dogs, have an air of worldly experience and grace about them.
Content with life's simple things, they express gratitude in many ways for anything 'extra' that comes in their direction.

Some people contact us offering a home to 'any' dog needing help, motivated by desire to help rather than desire to have a dog. Some of these folk are seeking a challenge, others are just offering a home to the most needy.
We need more homes like these for the dogs who are most deserving - mature dogs who's lives have dramatically changed. Please contact us if you will consider adopting an older dog, and if the potential cost is the only concern you have, consider adoption under our 'CollieLaw Scheme'

For more information about our criteria for adopting older dogs and the adoption process use the link below.
Criteria and Information on how to adopt an Older dog from Border Collie Rescue

For information about our program for assisted fostering of older dogs
The Collielaw Support Scheme

We would advise everyone to get their pet insured.
Some insurance companies will not insure dogs over a certain age. The PDSA does.
For details of the PDSA insurance scheme use the link below.
Visit the PDSA Pet Insurance website

Other relevant information
We do not sell dogs - we offer dogs for adoption, to remain in their new homes permanently, but with the assurance that if anything goes wrong we will want to take the dog back and look after its interests.
In an uncertain world this can be a reassuring safely net for people who care about their dogs.

Dogs offered are fully vaccinated, wormed, parasite treated, microchipped and when appropriate neutered or spayed.
Under no circumstances would we allow dogs to be bred from or used for breeding purposes. Annual booster vaccinations must be maintained by the new owner to protect the dog from infectious disease.

Adoption is a formal agreement between us and an applicant that they will give a home to a dog and look after it properly for the rest of its life, however we are aware that life sometimes throws up problems and part of the arrangement is that we will always take a dog back, at any time, if the new home is unable to keep it - for any reason.

The full terms and conditions of our adoption agreement can be read here - opens in a new window

If you are interested in adopting a Border Collie from us,
please do not write to us or email us - we want to speak to you before we start the process.
Please phone us during office hours. Details here.

Calls to our office and mobile will only be answered during our office hours