SO YOU WANT TO

Adopt a Cavalier

Here’s everything you need to know!

 We rescue, rehabilitate and re-home surrendered Cavaliers. We are dedicated to ensuring all surrendered dogs are placed in loving homes that are suited to their individual needs.

Each of our rescues are unique, but if there’s a few things we know about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, it’s that they are social animals that thrive on human interaction and have a love of food, toys and plenty of pats.

Before adopting a Cavalier, it's important to consider a few key factors.

First and foremost, these dogs require regular exercise and grooming, as they have long, silky coats that require regular brushing and grooming to prevent matting and tangles. Additionally, these dogs can be prone to certain health issues, which some of our rescues have already developed, including heart and eye problems, which can require regular veterinary care. Overall, King Charles Cavaliers make excellent pets for those who are able to provide them with the love, attention, and care they require.

Our Adoption Process

Follow us on FB

All dogs available for adoption are posted on our Facebook Page.

Submit Your Interest

Download a copy of the Expression of Interest Form below or complete your application online.

Assessment

Our rehoming team will assess all applications on a case-by-case basis, to find the perfect match for each pooch that comes into our care.

Interview

Our team will conduct a phone interview with our shortlisted candidates and arrange for a meet & greet at your property.

It’s a Match!

Successful applicants will be sent paperwork for adoption and processing of adoption fees.

Things to know about our process

  • Dogs available for adoption are posted on our Facebook Page. Dogs generally only become available for adoption once they have had necessary veterinary work completed and temperament observations provided by their foster carers.

  • We seek applications from potential adopters who are interested in each particular dog. The full adoption Expression of Interest application must be completed and submitted to us for you to be considered.

  • Our rehoming team assesses each application with a view to matching the dogs’ specific requirements with potential homes.The Cavalier is our primary focus.

  • Only those applicants that we feel furfil the Cavaliers needs most suitably will proceed to an interview, a yard check and a meet and greet.

  • All Expression of Interest applications are retained by us for future reference. However, if you see a Cavalier that becomes available after you have submitted your application that you think you match the criteria for, then it is your responsibility to contact us to put your name forward for that particular dog.

  • Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. The combination of the dogs’ backgrounds, their surrender circumstances, the sensitive nature of the breed and of course their mental and physical wellbeing are all paramount in our selection process. Not every applicant is suitable for one of our dogs due to their sometimes complex needs.

We receive adoption enquiries almost daily. We appreciate your patience.

Prior to applying we recommend that you take time to read through the Frequently Asked Questions below. Should you wish to proceed, complete an Expression of Interest form by clicking the Apply Now button below. We recommend allowing yourself at least 15-20 minutes.

If you prefer to print the form and write your answers in before scanning and emailing it back to us, then you can download a PDF version here.

Frequently Asked Questions - Adoption

  • 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 re-homing process. We no longer maintain a waiting list.

  • 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 may not be able to get back to each applicant individually, however, we will post a notice on our Facebook page once a dog has been rehomed.

  • 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 varies and may depend 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 Cavaliers are thoroughly vet checked, desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and groomed (where necessary) before re-homing. Essential medical and dental treatment is also attended to.

    We rely on the payment of adoption fees as well as community donations and we hope that people who adopt dogs through our organisation will continue to support our work in the years ahead as a donor and/or supporter of our events.

  • 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.

Ready to apply?