Guidelines
GUIDELINES AND POST HOLDER INFORMATION FOR THE INDEPENDENT FLATCOATED RETRIEVER REHOMING
Updated November 2021,January 2020; revisions in 2019 and 2017; created June 1999.
1) Introduction
The Independent Flatcoated Retriever Rehoming (IFRR) are a group of devotees of the flatcoated retriever breed and our aim is to benefit the welfare of any flatcoated retriever who needs rehoming, fostering or other assistance. Our group includes subscribing supporters, volunteers, contacts who are seeking to surrender a dog through the IFRR or who are seeking other assistance, contacts who are seeking to adopt a dog through the IFRR, and contacts who have adopted a dog through the IFRR.
These guidelines set out a broad description of the practices that apply to our group and information is provided about the IFRR’s post holders.
2) The welfare of the flatcoated retriever(s) will always be the primary consideration.
3) Contacts who are surrendering a dog:
a) In general, the IFRR will not buy dogs. In exceptional circumstances payment will be considered when the welfare and/or safety of the dog is compromised.
b) When a dog is to be surrendered to the IFRR, parting owners will be required to sign the surrender of ownership form, to transfer the registration papers to the IFRR, and to provide other appropriate paperwork, for examples, vaccination records, microchip data, medical information.
c) After the form has been signed and the dog has been physically transferred to the IFRR’s co-ordinator or volunteer, then the IFRR will have full responsibility for the dog, the parting owner has no further rights to the dog and the parting owner is not entitled to any information as to the whereabouts of the dog’s new home, foster home or other temporary accommodation. By arrangement with the relevant co-ordinator or volunteer the parting owner can be assured that the dog has settled and is happy.
4) Contacts who are rehoming a dog:
a) The IFRR will arrange for all potential homes to be home-checked.
b) A rehoming contract will be signed for each dog that is rehomed.
c) In the case of an intact bitch, the rehoming owner will be required to have her spayed at their cost and to provide evidence to the IFRR, for example, via a veterinary receipt or letter from the veterinarian. In the case of an intact male, the rehoming owner has more flexibility about neutering but it is their responsibility to make the decision and to meet any costs. The IFRR will be flexible as regards costs if asked by the rehoming owner.
d) Registration documents of the dog will remain with the IFRR. In general, no registration documents will be forwarded to the rehoming owner but a copy of the pedigree papers will be available if requested. There may be certain situations where registration documents can be forwarded, for example, if the new owners wish to take part in activities where the Kennel Club requires the dog to be registered to the rehoming owner, but providing the registration documents will be at the discretion of the IFRR.
e) In general, a rehomed dog cannot be exported. However there may be circumstances that require flexibility of this guideline, for example, if the owners decide to live abroad, and each case will be at the discretion of the IFRR.
f) A rehomed dog cannot be sold or passed on to a third party by the rehoming owner.
g) After a rehoming, follow-up visit(s) may be carried out at the discretion of the IFRR. Also the rehoming owner can request a follow-up visit and the IFRR will be available for advice for the rehoming owner if requested.
h) The IFRR agree to take back any dog who has been rehomed if requested by the rehoming owner in the interest of the dog’s welfare. In the very rare circumstances when the IFRR consider the dog’s welfare is at risk, the IFRR retain the right to take back the dog from the rehoming owner.
i) There will be no charge to the rehoming owners but a donation to the IFRR will be requested.
5) In relation to the surrendering and rehoming of dogs, the IFRR are led by the national co-ordinator who is assisted by the area co-ordinators and in turn they are assisted by the volunteers. Other posts at the IFRR include the treasurer, magazine editor, and fundraising organiser.
a) The IFRR will carry out the processes of surrendering and rehoming with as much confidentiality as possible and in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
b) The IFRR will not advertise that a dog is available for rehoming.
c) A waiting list will be collated in each area and managed by the area co-ordinator in discussion with the national co-ordinator.
d) The IFRR’s co-ordinators are responsible for the rehoming of dogs. They may be assisted by the volunteers and when a volunteer carries out a surrender or a rehoming then it is their responsibility to complete all the appropriate paperwork and to submit everything to the co-ordinator. This paperwork would include surrender of ownership form, registration papers, vaccination records, microchip data, rehoming contract, amongst other documents.
e) Where variations to these guidelines and flexibility are required, decisions on the welfare of dogs will not be taken by one person but there will be discussions between the national and area co-ordinators and volunteers as appropriate. Where fees may be liable for the care of a dog this must also be discussed and sanctioned by the National Co-ordinator or the Treasurer.
f) The National Co-ordinator for the IFRR is Mrs Mary Haines, Silvermere Cottage, 11 Lower Stanton St. Quintin, Chippenham SN14 6BY email [email protected]tel: 01666 837087
The area co-ordinators are –
South West: Ms Sharon Tamblyn, Lynwood, Helland, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 4PY
email [email protected] tel: 07866 513443
South East: Mr Nigel Bentley, Windover, Milton Street, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5RP
Email [email protected] tel: 01323 871554 and 07930 738034
Scotland: Ms June McPhillips, 124 Main Street, Pathhead, Midlothian, EH37 5PX
email [email protected] tel: 07950 141074
Midlands: Ms Mel Salt, 95 Uttoxeter Road, Draycott in the Moors, Staffs ST11 9NR email [email protected] tel: 01782 392453
East: Ms Gemma Jacobs, Meadow View, Mill Lane, Anstey, Herts SG9 0BL
email [email protected] tel: 01763 848139
Breeder Liaison - Ms Gemma Jacobs Meadow View, Mill Lane, Anstey, Herts SG9 0BL
email [email protected] tel: 01763 848139
Contacts -
North East - Mr Gordon Hunter , 6 Stardale Ave. Blyth, Northumberland. NE24 4EJ
email [email protected] 01670 223038 07732143632
North West - Mrs Pat Round, 241 Liverpool Road, Haydock Street, St Helens, Merseyside. WA11 9RT
email [email protected] 01744 27902 07817678970
6) The treasurer and fundraising organiser for the IFRR is Mrs Brenda Johnson, 10 Bramble Gardens, Belton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 9PE email [email protected] tel: 01493 780071
7) The magazine editor for the IFRR is Richard Pendrill, Boscobel, Sweetwater Lane, Wormley Godalming, Surrey GU8 5SS email [email protected] Tel 01428 685154
8) The IFRR’s activities are funded partly by donations and partly by the endeavours of the fundraising organiser. All monies raised will be used for the purposes of rehoming or fostering the dogs and for any equipment needed to carry out this work. No funds will be distributed elsewhere unless the IFRR as a group are consulted.
9) Expenses – The policy of the IFRR is that Co-ordinators and Volunteers are able to claim out of pocket expenses that they may have incurred during a rehoming. To claim expenses please complete the Expenses Claim form which is available from the Treasurer or National Co-ordinator.
10) In the event of the IFRR ceasing to function, all physical assets will to be sold and the funds raised, along with the monies in the bank account, will be divided equally between Dogs for Good (charity registration number: 1092960), formerly known as Dogs for the Disabled (charity registration number: 700454), Hearing Dogs for the Deaf (charity registration number: 293358), and Hounds for Heroes (charity registration number: 1134359).
On behalf of the Independent Flatcoated Retriever Rehoming:
Mrs Mary Haines, National Co-ordinator
Silvermere Cottage
11 Lower Stanton St Quintin
Chippenham
Wilts
SN14 6BY
Email: [email protected]