Leave a lasting legacy FAQs
A: Your next of kin, Executor of your Will, vet or other relevant person, wil lneed to contact us on 0117 9803 906 to let us know that your pet needs to be rehomed.
To ensure this happens we strongly advise that, as well as including instructions in your Will, you tell the relevant people of your wish for your pets to be taken to Bristol A.R.C. - family, friends, vet, neighbours, colleagues, social worker, landlord etc. You should also make sure that your Will and any other relevant paperwork is up to date and easy to access.
If you are able to appoint a temporary guardian for your pet who knows your wishes and would be happy to care for your pet whilst arrangements are being made, this will ensure a smooth transition for your pet to Bristol A.R.C.
A: We will liaise with your next of kind, pet guardian, or the Executor of your Will to arrange an appointment for them to bring your pet to us at a time that is convenient to them.
A: No, but please ensure that you follow all legalities for the species of the pet you have, what we would ask is that if your pet is microchipped that the details are up to date and registered to you. You can check this with your vet.
A: Through our BARC Angels service we operate a non-selective intake policy, however Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 means that we cannot rehome any of the four banned breeds - Put Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino or Fila Braziliero.
A: Our operations are design to enable us to take in emergency cases at short notice, so it is likely that we would be able to find a space for your pet quickly.
A: To ensure that we can take the best care of your pets, if you do have more than one, we may need to stagger their entry dates so that we can ensure that their entry is as smooth as possible.
There are no limits on the number of pets we can admit through the BARC Angels service, but we want to ensure that we can adhere to infection control measures and have staff available to give them the care they need directly on entry.
A: We always put the wellbeing of our animals first, so when we can see that a pair or group of animals are clearly bonded and it is in their best interest to be kept together, we will look to rehome them in their pair or group.
Occasionally, animals who have been bonded in a home may behave differently towards each other in a rescue environment, which can be due to stress or the change of their environment. In these instances, we may separate a pair or group, as doing so would decrease their stress levels and be better for their welfare.
Pairs or groups of animals can also sometimes take longer to find loving new homes for. Whilst we don’t have a time limit on how long we care for the animals we look after, it may be in the interests of their welfare to look for individual for homes for them.
Every decision is made on a case by case basis, always with the animals best interests at heart, and we will always do our best to carry out your wishes.
A: We understand that you may have concerns about your pet's long term health, and it's lovely to think about how to provide for your pet's care after your death, however we would advise against setting up a Trust Fund as, once your pet has left Bristol A.R.C., there is no way for us to make sure that money is being used as it should.
A: Every pet that comes into Bristol A.R.C. is treated with compassion and dignity and is assessed by a member of our Veterinary team and highly-experienced and trained behavioural accessors. Under some circumstances, our veterinary team may determine that an animal's medical condition cannot be treated or managed, and is having a negative effect on their wellbeing. It may be decided that the kindest action is to put that animal to sleep.
If your pet has a medical condition that can be managed and our veterinary team are happy that they still have a good quality of life, then they can be rehomed. We would make sure that their new family are aware of this and are financially able to cover any costs involved. if you have any concerns about this, please do get in touch.
A: We welcome pets of all ages and many people come to us looking to rehome one of our more senior residents. What matters to us most is your pet's quality of life, not their age. We know these animals still have so much life and love to give so we work hard to find your pet the perfect home to enjoy their retirement years.
A: Some animals come to Bristol A.R.C. with behavioural problems, such as aggression with other dogs, anxiety, and issues around house training. Their behaviour may also change in an unfamiliar environment. We will take the time to work with the animals to understand whether the problem can be resolved with time, training and care.
If the problems persist and we cannot be confident of rehoming them safely and responsibly, Bristol A.R.C. may take the sad but necessary decision to put the animal to sleep. We care deeply for all the animals we look after and such decisions are never taken lightly or in isolation. Our open intake policy means that difficult decisions sometimes have to be made, but also ensures that every animal we take in gets the second chance they deserve.
A: A small amount of familiar bedding / blankets may help your pet settle in during their first few days at Bristol A.R.C., but after that, we may use our own equipment based on each animal's individual needs. This includes leads, collars and harnesses. Anything brought with an animal that can't be used by your animal, may be donated to other animals in our care.
A: Bristol A.R.C. is a rehoming charity, therefore we cannot offer a boarding service and are not able to take in pets on a temporary basis.
If you feel that you are no longer in the position to care for your pet and would like to give it up to Bristol A.R.C. before your death, please contact us and we'd be happy to help.
A: Our rehoming team work very hard to match our animals with their perfect new homes. All our animals are assessed by a member of staff, who would also be able to refer to the information given by yourself, to carefully determine what sort of family, lifestyle and home environment would suit them best. With this information, they would then look for possible matches on our list of registered rehomers. They may also add your pet's photo and details to our website.
When a match has been found, your pet's potential new family would come to Bristol A.R.C. to meet them. If all goes well, and after a final chat with our rehoming team, your pet would be on their way to their new home.
A: Whilst your pet is at Bristol A.R.C. your family can ask for updates on their progress, however Data Protection laws would prohibit us from sharing details of their new owners. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate visits from family or close friends to see your pet. This is because it could cause stress and upset for the pet, and we try to ensure we keep stress to a minimum whilst your pets are with us.
It may be that your family decide that they themselves are able to provide care for your pet or take it to an alternative rescue centre. If you want to ensure that your pet comes to Bristol A.R.C., and nowhere else, we strongly advise you include this in your Will and make a plan for how your pet will be brought to Bristol A.R.C.
We suggest the following wording:
I GIVE any pet I own at the time of my death to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre of 48-50 Albert Road, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0XA (registered charity number 205858) and I WISH for the said Bristol Animal Rescue Centre to take reasonable steps to care for and secure a new loving home for my pet.
A: The BARC Angels service is completely free of charge. Many of our supporters who sign up to the service choose to leave a gift in their Will to Bristol A.R.C. as a thank you for promising to take care of their treasured pet. Whilst thie is absolutely not a necessity, a gift to Bristol A.R.C., whatever amount, will help ensure that we can continue to be here for any animals who need our help, for many more years to come.
