Things You'll Need:
- Patience, you may have to wait as much as a year or more to adopt.
- Understanding, since rescue Cavaliers are often coming from a traumatic or neglectful situation.
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Step 1
Know what needs a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are in terms of grooming, medical, living and social conditions. Also know your needs, do you have an active or quiet life, do live in an apartment where you need a quiet dog or would you prefer a dog that would be your early warning system when they see something unexpected.
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Step 2
Visit American Cavalier King Charles Club website or Mid Florida Cavalier King Charles Club. There are others, but I mention these because the first one is National. The second one is the rescue I belong to. There will be a preliminary application to fill out to get your name into our systems in the event a rescue becomes available. Generally we offer Cavaliers to the next person on the waiting list, but we also take into consideration the requirements you have listed for a good match and the dog's needs are a major consideration.
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Step 3
You will have have a telephone interview with a representative of the rescue organization at which time you can ask any questions you may have.
Then the wait. This is the hard part, but as I have already mentioned in the introduction, people have waited over a year in some cases for their Cavalier to come along. And everyone has said it was worth the wait. -
Step 4
The call comes, and your opportunity comes to give one of these dear little dogs a home. But there are going to be many questions. What does he look like, how does she behave, is he healthy or how old is this dog. Unlike a puppy, behavior, size and health conditions will already have been determined. Because the dogs have not been well bred in most cases, some issues can be expected. The dog may be on medication for the rest of it's life for MVD, it may have had an operation for a luxating patella or pain management for hip dysplasia. The dog could very well be healthy, but is not quite within Cavalier standards in regard to look or size. The dog may have a behavior issue that the previous owner did not understand and gave up on the dog. Each case is very special and it takes a special person to have the patience, love and kindness to deal with the situation at hand. If you decide you are ready when faced with an actual dog to adopt into your family then it is time for the next step:
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Step 5
The home visit. This time a representative of our organization will come to visit your home. We know what it is like to live with a Cavalier and we also know what this particular dog is like as well. We will be able to point out any potential hazards if they exist and it is part of the diligence on our part to provide a safe forever home for the dog.
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Step 6
After all this has happened, then you are ready to fill out the final paperwork to make the adoption permanent. Your life will be forever changed by this little dog. You may have to help him over the trauma of living caged for long periods of time, or take her to training classes to retrain some behavior, or socialize your new companion, but everything you do with your dog will become a bonding experience. The people that have given their hearts and homes to a sick dog for the short time this dog has left say they don't regret it even though they may have to say goodbye too soon.
