Adopt a Cavalier

The dogs we have in foster care and who may be seeking new homes changes often. Please read the information above for details of the new rehoming process. We do not maintain a waiting list.

To find the right home for each Cavalier we consider a combination of the dogs’ backgrounds, their surrender circumstances, the sensitive nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed, as well as the and the dog’s mental and physical wellbeing. Not every applicant is suitable for one of our dogs due to their sometimes complex needs.

Each application is assessed by our volunteer Rehoming Team. The needs of each Cavalier are our primary focus. We select candidates whose lifestyle matches each dogs’ specific needs.

Only suitable applicants will be interviewed, then have a yard check, then a meet and greet.

As we are working with dogs who have been voluntarily surrendered or otherwise rescued, there is no way to predict when we might have a Cavalier that suits your circumstances and preferences.

Some people have waited up to 12 months for the right dog to come along, others have been able to adopt more quickly. Keep in mind that if you are only after a particular colour, sex or age, it may take a little longer before your match comes along. If you are seeking to adopt a dog more quickly and are willing to adopt another breed, then you might like to enquire with other rescue groups.

Once you have applied, the process of reviewing applications, conducting phone interviews and carrying out property checks is time consuming and needs to work around both volunteers’ and applicant’s work and personal commitments. It may take 2-3 weeks before a dog is matched and rehomed to their new family. As we have a very small crew relying on 4 or 5 core volunteers, we cannot get back to every applicant.

If you have not heard from us within 14 days from applying then you have not been successful on this occasion.

No. CKCSRQ retains all Expression of Interest applications for future reference.

However, if you see a Cavalier available that you think your lifestyle matches, please contact us directly stating the date you first sent in an Expression of Interest form.

We generally only re-home dogs throughout Queensland and sometimes into far northern New South Wales. If you reside outside of these areas, we recommend that you search for rescue groups within your state or contact the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in your state as some offer rescue. Alternatively, there may be a breeder in the club with an older dog to rehome.

The adoption fee for a Cavalier rescue varies. It depends on the dog’s age and their current or projected health issues. As a guide, the average adoption fee might range between $300 and $1750. All our Cavalier rescues are thoroughly vet checked, desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and groomed (where necessary) before rehoming. Essential medical and dental treatment is also attended to.

We rely on the payment of adoption fees, as well as community donations to continue rescuing Cavaliers. It is our hope that those who adopt our dogs will continue to support our work in the future as a donor and/or supporter of our fundraising activities.

Our team tries very hard to match each individual dog with the most suitable household – for the benefit of you and for the dog. We do not wish to unsettle the dog any further by moving them from home to home. We usually find that a trial period is not necessary, however, if there is any potential concern such as how your existing dog will adjust to a new family member then we are happy to discuss a trial period. The decision to grant a trial period is completely at our discretion. Please note however, that even on a trial period, the care of the dog becomes totally your responsibility and the adoption fee must be paid in full prior to taking the dog home with you. This fee may be refunded if the trial period is unsuccessful.

When a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is surrendered (and prior to being adopted) they undergo the following:

• A full health assessment by a Veterinarian.

• Veterinary work completed.

• Placed into foster care where they are able to heal from any veterinary work and have their temperament is observed so we can find them a forever home that matches their needs.

• Once we feel the Cavalier is ready, we place their details up on our social media sites inviting expressions of interest for adoption.