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Volunteering at Adoption Days

Thank you for giving up your free time to volunteer at our events, it’s much appreciated! To make things go smooth, we've got the following guidelines. Please read these in advance to be prepared for the event and reach out to our core team members if you have any questions.

Core team

CORE TEAM:

Fiona, ⁠Seema,
Ludmila, Amy, Becca, ⁠Benita

If possible, please wear a black t-shirt and comfortable trousers.

QUICK LINKS:

Volunteers duties on the day

Transporting dogs to/from events

  • Any volunteers that drive can help with pick up’s AND drop offs of the same dog, before and after the adoption day.

  • Each week a transportation list will be shared in the group. If you can collect a dog from the area indicated respond to let the team know.  

  • Try and pick the dogs up earlier in order to reach the event by 11. I would recommend you pick them by 10:30am 

  • Dogs will be given on leash and harness so please make sure you tie their leash on the car seats to keep them secured. If needed you can also put seat covers below but tying their leash to the seats is a must 

  • When reaching the venue, if you are bringing 2 dogs, we advise that you either bring them one by one. If you are very experienced then you can try to bring them both but only and only if you are experienced. You can call one of the senior team members to help.

  • After the event is over and if the dogs have not found a home you are responsible to take them back as well. Please coordinate pick up and drop off times with a core team member or foster parents, so they know what time to have to dogs ready for collection/return.

Know the dogs

  • Ensure you know as much about the dogs as possible. Check the boards, website adult dogs & puppies pages, Instagram, Facebook. If you are speaking to the foster parent, ask them for information about their character and how they are like at home, with kids, cats etc. any information you gather should also be shared so we can ensure boards are updated and we all are on the same page.  

  • If you are handed a leash with a dog when they are dropped off, please ensure it gets a name tag and gets placed in the box so it can be given back to the foster parents at the end of the day.

Inside the pens

  • Try to engage with people as much as possible! 

  • Be in the pens with the dogs as much as possible (unless asked to step out)

  • Clean up any pee and poop

  • Make sure water bowls are clean and filled

  • Engage in play with the pups to keep them entertained

  • Manage any disruptive behaviour amongst the dogs​​

  • No treats allowed inside the pen

  • Dogs may leave the pen only with permission from someone in the core team

  • ​Don't let anyone pick up the dogs!

  • Don't allow children in the pens without guardians, also see that they don't mishandle the pups as it's not a petting zoo

  • Try to manage overcrowding by letting only people with an approved application inside the pens OR if it's not too busy and has been agreed by a senior team member

  • Taking photos of the pups that we can use on social media is also helpful. Preferably pics or videos of the dogs alone or interacting with each other rather than pictures of volunteers with the dogs. Share the best pics with one of the core team memebers.

  • It may be useful to wear a bum bag to keep your hands free and ensure your personal items don’t fall out of your pockets onto the hard surface and get damaged.

Boster program

What is a BOSTER?

​Boster is in short "Boarding a doggy from the shelter" or one that was surrendered, so they can gain exposure at adoption events and meet potential families in a nice boarding environment. Each doggy needs a Boster (=sponsor) covering their stay in boarding to ensure the dogs don't have to return to the shelter. Please consider becoming a boster or co-bostering by emailing us to join a Boster Pod.

How much to boster?

DOG
MONTHLY
BOSTER POD*
ADULT
1,000 AED
100-500 AED
PUPPY
500 AED
100-250 AED

*You can co-boster with others for a smaller amount.

How to boster?

  1. Send us DM on Facebook / Instagram or email us to express your interest. We often post dogs needing a Boster so you can choose a dog, or we can assign one for you.
    2.⁠ ⁠Payment is made monthly via a secure payment link directly to the boarding facility.
    3.⁠ ⁠You will receive a Boster Certificate with your Boster dog’s picture after the first payment.

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Fostering a dog

Applying to FOSTER

  1. Fill out the online application

  2. Application is screened, approved or declined

  3. If approved choose your doggy and take your doggy home.

Additional info about FOSTERING

  • If a dog is in a good and happy foster home it is only up for adoption.

  • Dogs that do not currently have a foster home are up for both fostering and adoption.

  • Fostering can lead to adoption aka 'foster fail’

  • Fostering a puppy requires the foster to bring them to adoption events every Saturday. If they cannot bring themselves, we will try to arrange transport.

  • Check with the potential foster if they have experience with dogs/if they have had a dog before and if they have any experience training a puppy.

  • If they don’t have experience its ok as long as they are willing to learn and understand the level of responsibility involved. A puppy will have accidents around the house and need basic training not just love and cuddles.

  • Advise them to remove all chewable items to somewhere high up and remove any expensive rugs!!

  • Ideally fosters should generally be able to pay for their own dog food etc.

  • Wherever possible we will provide collars, leash, bedding, pee pads, food and bowls but it’s not always possible. If the pup was dropped off by a previous foster it may have some items with it so check first.

  • If applications have been completed and approved, dogs can be fostered on the day, but this has to be approved by senior members of the team.

  • Generally, the fostering is for minimum of 2 weeks. However sometimes the situation requires a shorter period. (Maybe current foster is travelling etc.) Check with the team if unsure.

Adopting a dog

Applying to ADOPT

  1. Fill out the online application

  2. Application is screened, approved or declined.

  3. If approved choose your doggy and take your doggy home for a trial period (1-2 weeks)

  4. A home visit is conducted by one of the team

  5. Once you, your doggy and SDCUAQ are happy, pay the adoption fee 1500 AED

Additional info about ADOPTING

  • Check with the potential adopter if they have experience with dogs/if they have had a dog before.

  • Adoption fee is 1500 dhs and includes vaccinations and neutering. It is mandatory for all dogs to be neutered.

  • A home visit is conducted within the first two weeks, after taking the dog home. If everyone is happy then the adoption is finalised. This time period can be extended if needed but not indefinitely and it will be assessed on an individual basis.

  • When adopting a dog a NOC (No objection certificate) is required if the apartment/villa is being rented. This does not apply if the adopter is the owner of the property, in which case a copy of the title deeds can be requested.

  • If applications have been completed and approved, dogs can be taken home on trial adoption on the day, but this has to be approved by senior members of the team.

FAQ

Do you have any pure breeds (Maltese/Husky/Yorkshire Terrier)?

All our dogs are mixed breed and exact breed is unknown. This question is asked frequently. Generally our dogs have a mix of Saluki/Labrador/German Shepard/Terrier. Sometimes it’s obvious but not always.

 

(The Shelter in Umm Al Quwain does have a few pure breeds who also need a home but numbers are slim and obviously cannot be guaranteed)

How much are the dogs?

Dogs are for adoption only with a fee of AED 1,500, payable only at the end of a 1 week trial period for puppies and 2 week for adult dogs. The trial period can only begin once the online application has been approved. During the trial period a home visit will be conducted by one of the team.

Do you have any older dogs?

Yes, we have lots of older dogs up for foster and adoption at the shelter in Um al Quwain. Complete the application form online at straydogscenteruae.com stating that you would like to visit the shelter to meet the older doggies. The application will be approved or declined. If approved you will be invited to the shelter to meet the dogs by the shelter owner.

Where is the shelter and how many dogs are there?

The shelter is in Um Al Quwain and has 1400+ dogs.

Can we go to the shelter?

What is the BOSTER program?

How can people support SDC?

For shelter visits an appointment has to be made with the shelter beforehand via the website, email operations(at)sdc-uaq.com or Facebook Messenger.

​It means  boarding a doggy from the shelter at Bed & Bisuits in Dubai, so they can gain exposure at adoption events and meet potential families in a nice boarding environment. Each doggy needs a Boster (=sponsor) to cover their stay in boarding.

  • 1 month per dog is 1000 AED

  • 2 weeks 500 AED

In many ways, more info is on the website.

SDC mostly needs funds to care for all the dogs they have rescued and taken in, as the operations are run solely on donations.

 

Other items needed:

  • Dog food, dry and canned, and bags of rice

  • Canine medicines, especially tick treatments

  • Leashes, collars and harnesses

  • Dog beds, crates and IATA approved travel crates

  • Blankets, bed sheets and towels

Donated items can be dropped off at adoption days or at Bed&Biscuits.

 

Other ways to support:

  • Like and share our posts on social media channels

  • Volunteer to walk the dogs at the shelter, info on website

  • Long term volunteers to help with adoption days, vet runs and collecting/transporting donations in Dubai

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