COVID-19: how we’re responding to the outbreak
This is a “live post” which means we’ll keep it updated as the Covid-19 situation progresses – please do check back for latest news and developments.
We know that in times of crisis, animals are the first to suffer, and we want to make sure that we’re doing everything in our power to continue our rescue work when it’s needed the most. We want to reassure our donors, adopters and supporters that our commitment remains, now more than ever, to the care, rescue and treatment of stray dogs around the world.
We cannot do this without the support and generosity of our community: we’d like to extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out and helped during this challenging time.
Please see details below of how Covid-19 is affecting our adoption and fostering process & international rescue work, as well as ways to help:
Adopting a dog
Latest status update – 9th September – the adoption process
We know that many of you are waiting to hear back from our adoptions team and are keen to welcome a rescue dog into your home. With Covid-19 creating something of a backlog, and new applications coming in every day, our small team are working tirelessly to keep adoptions up and running.
In the days before Covid, once you had submitted your form, you and our team would be able to chat through your application and discuss suitable dogs. But with so many applications to review, and the added complications of travel restrictions and localised lockdowns in our dogs’ home countries, the adoption process is taking longer than you or we would like.
Going forward, when a dog comes up for adoption, we will review all applications received and get in touch with those best suited to that particular dog’s needs and personality traits. Effectively, just sit back, relax and allow us to take the next step.
As always, we are incredibly grateful to all our prospective adopters for their patience and understanding during this time.
29th June:
We’re pleased to announce that June has seen the first dogs from Bulgaria and Romania able to make their journey home since lockdown was implemented. Whilst additional checks, limited availability on intermediary transport (e.g. the Eurotunnel) and an inevitable backlog of travel means that these opportunities remain more sporadic than usual, we’re hopeful that those small transport runs we have achieved will be indicative of more freedom of movement to follow soon.
We’re keeping in regular contact with our partners in Europe who rely on overground routes to transport dogs, and continue to monitor the situation to allow us to take advantage of any opportunity that arises. Whilst we’re still unable to guarantee adoption timeframes, we’re working hard to ensure that we can resume a higher level of transportation as soon as it’s safely possible to do so.
Please be aware, currently reserved dogs will take priority spaces on the first transport runs available.
Background information
Please note, we are able to process all new enquiries and take you through the initial stages of the adoption journey as usual. We have always carried out our pre-adoption process remotely, so we’re perfectly equipped to continue applications and carry out initial conversations over video call as usual.
Under normal circumstances, our average adoption time is around 6 weeks; the majority of this time is dedicated to matching you with the right dog, carrying out a video call to answer your questions and learn more about you and your home, and completing the necessary paperwork. We are still very much in a position to kick start this process, so do please continue to submit your adoption forms. A member of our team will be in contact with you as soon as possible after you submit your enquiry.
You can learn more about our adoption process here.
20th May:
Given the current restrictions in place on both international and local travel, our options for transporting dogs to the UK are more limited than usual. That said, we are beginning to see changes in guidelines that have allowed us to rehome a number of dogs in the past month.
Routes by air remain the most feasible in the short term, meaning that a number of dogs from Bahrain and Greece (thanks to a one-off opportunity that arose last minute) have been able to land in the UK and travel safely onwards to their new homes.
We’re keeping in regular contact with our partners in Europe who rely on overground routes to transport dogs, and understand that there are early indications that restrictions may be lifted (albeit temporarily) in the coming weeks. Whilst this doesn’t allow us to guarantee arrival dates and times, we’re working hard to ensure that we can resume transportation as soon as it’s safely possible to do so.
Please be aware, currently reserved dogs will take priority spaces on the first transport runs available.
25th March:
Given the delays in travel, we’re asking our prospective adopters for their patience while we wait for more clarity on definitive timeframes for arrival, and will provide more accurate timings as soon as our transport partners have clearance to travel. We’re monitoring the situation on a daily basis and are in close contact with transport partners and all relevant government agencies: please be assured that we’re primed and ready to jump on any transport opportunity that arises! Given that dogs are classed as “freight”, there may well be scope for international adoptions to resume prior to domestic travel restrictions being lifted.
We are incredibly grateful to all our prospective adopters for their patience and understanding during this time – we know that your dog will be worth what may be a slightly longer wait than usual!
Fostering a dog
Latest status
With the majority of our dogs still housed in their native shelters overseas, we don’t currently have a large number of dogs in need of a foster home. That said, we’ll be looking to bring over as many dogs as is safe and responsible to do so once transport restrictions are lifted. This will not only give more dogs the chance to start their adoption journey and experience the love and comfort of a home, but it also relieves the very great pressure that our partner shelters are currently under.
As soon as we’re able to resume transportation, we’ll require the support of our foster network to be able to provide homes at relatively short notice. If you’d like to be considered for foster, please make sure you’ve filled out our foster form so we have all the necessary information on file.
You can also subscribe to our Foster A Dog mailing list to receive urgent bulletins, and all fostering updates will also be posted on our Instagram account.
25th March:
During lock down, the ability to move dogs from home to home is severely restricted. To ensure the safety of our adopters and fosters, and following the advice of the government, we will not be able to facilitate the transportation of foster dogs except in emergency cases (which we will review on a case by case basis). We continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, and will post foster opportunities as soon as they arise on our Instagram.
20th March:
With social distancing restrictions being rolled out more thoroughly across the country, we’ve had more enquires than ever about fostering. It’s been truly heartwarming to see that so many people’s first thoughts are not for themselves, but for how they can help others during these strange times. Sadly, with tighter controls around international borders, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to arrange the transport of dogs from our partner shelters to the UK. As and when travel becomes possible again, our priority will be for those dogs that are already reserved – please see above for more information on how adoptions are being affected by COVID-19. However, we’ll also be looking to secure as many places for dogs on transport runs as possible, which may mean that we bring over additional dogs who’ll be in need of urgent foster.
Our projects
Wild at Heart Foundation are committed to providing support from afar for as many dogs in need as we can. After all, the cycle of uncontrolled breeding is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, with many previously owned pets being dumped and abandoned, the rate of stray births is set only to increase, and our partner shelters are experiencing a significant increase in the number of owned dogs being dumped at their gates. Now more than ever, we owe it to the stray dogs of the world to continue to extend our support however and wherever we can.
Our priority first and foremost is to our partner shelters and rescuers, all of whom are stopping at nothing to provide food and safety for the strays in their area. We will be providing emergency funding to ensure that our partners can cover the rising costs of food and supplies, and can continue to provide veterinary treatment to all our dogs currently in their care.
Whilst our focus remains on supporting the care and rescue of strays in most urgent need, we remain committed to supporting ongoing sterilisation initiatives where possible, and will be doing all we can to maintain funding for urgent ongoing campaigns. Sadly, given the global outbreak, we have been left with no choice but to postpone any project which relied on human interaction – namely, our mass-sterilisation clinic in Puerto Rico, scheduled to take place for the eighth time this May.
We are reliant on the donations of our community to continue to sustain our existing partnerships. Knowing that animals suffer all the more during times of crisis and unrest, we are acutely aware of the burgeoning problem we’re facing and the urgent need to rescue more dogs than ever before. If you’re able to help – be it a small one off donation, or a significant contribution to our efforts – we are so incredibly grateful for your generosity in these difficult times. See below for ways to show your support…
Ways to help
One thing that this unprecedented situation has demonstrated, is that there is still a great deal of kindness in our society and we’re so touched that so many people are supporting charities even though things are so uncertain right now – thank you for your support!
Set up a regular donation
Regular giving provides a lifeline for our partners, as not only does your first donation allow us to instantly direct your funding to the area of greatest need, it also ensures we’re able to extend our ongoing support throughout this crisis. If you’re able to spare just £10 a month, that could feed a dog in one of our partner shelters for the entire month.
If you are a UK tax payer, please make sure you select the “claim Gift Aid” option at checkout, as this allows us to claim back a further 25% of your total donation from the government, at no extra cost to you. This means we can reclaim an additional 25p for every £1 you give!
Sponsor a dog
This also makes for the ideal ethical gift during this time, and raises awareness of issues going on in the wider world even whilst our own movement is restricted.
If you are a UK tax payer, please make sure you select the “claim Gift Aid” option at checkout, as this allows us to claim back a further 25% of your total donation from the government, at no extra cost to you. This means we can reclaim an additional 25p for every £1 you give!
Make a donation
If you’re only able to give a one-off sum, we remain incredibly grateful for whatever you can spare. You can donate via our website, or across a number of third-party platforms including: PayPal, Facebook, JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving.
If you are a UK tax payer, please make sure you select the “claim Gift Aid” option at checkout, as this allows us to claim back a further 25% of your total donation from the government, at no extra cost to you. This means we can reclaim an additional 25p for every £1 you give!
Shop the Wild at Heart Foundation collection
Did you know that we have an online shop which sells a fabulous collection of sweatshirts and T-shirts, all of which directly support the charity? 100% of the profits generated from our merchandise sales are invested back into our mission.
Look good, feel good when you treat yourself to something from our collection. All of our clothing is made from organic cotton, and sourced from ethical, environmentally-friendly suppliers. Plus, they’re screen printed by hand in the heart of East London by Black Score design.
All merchandise is stored in a symptom-free household and gloves are worn whilst packing to ensure optimum safety. We are currently still able to offer delivery within 7 working days and will update if this changes at any point.
Give directly to our shelters
Our shelters overseas are struggling to both source and fund the essential supplies they need to keep the dogs in their care healthy and happy. If you’d like to purchase something to help, you can shop the Amazon wishlist for all our partner shelters that have one and send them something directly:
Give while you shop
There are a number of ways you can support Wild at Heart Foundation’s global dog rescue mission, without having to donate a penny! A growing number of organisations allow you to support a charity of your choice whilst making your usual online purchase. Please consider choosing Wild at Heart Foundation next time you enjoy an online spree:
Amazon Smile:
Amazon Smile is a campaign which ensures that 0.5% of every purchase you make through Amazon is donated to your charity of choice. Simply by browsing the charity version of the site – smile.amazon.co.uk – and selecting Wild at Heart Foundation as the charity you wish to support, you can generate vital funds for dogs in need whenever you shop.
Find out more about how Amazon Smile works, and get started!
Give As You Live:
Give As You Live is an alternative method of raising funds for Wild at Heart Foundation, for free! You can shop across a number of well known brand sites, including ASOS, John Lewis, Boots, Tesco and Booking.com – you simply need to make an account, and use Give As You Live as your starting point before beginning shopping.
Why not support dogs in need by treating yourself to a new outfit? Feed a hungry dog whilst doing your Tesco shop? Or help us provide shelter to a stray by booking into a hotel? Fundraising has never been so easy.
Volunteer
During lock down, we’re keen to ensure we remain safe and socially responsible and therefore have limited opportunities for in-person volunteer work at present. However, there are a number of ways you can still get involved and show your support:
The Country Dog Hotel
We’re working alongside our incredible friends at The Country Dog Hotel to help match up vulnerable people and key workers with fosters across the country. With more people isolating at home, it’s a great time to experience fostering a dog and could make the world of difference to someone who needs help in these strange times.
Get in touch with The Country Dog Hotel if you’re:
- interested in offering your services as a foster or dog walker
- someone who needs support caring for your dog at the moment (or the friend / relative / neighbour of someone you know needs help)