๐๐ป ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ โ๐ป
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐จ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ค๐ถ๐ฆโฆ
Dear future adopters,
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐บ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐: ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐. ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐โฆ ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด / ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป / ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฟ
When we ask for 6ft secure fencing, it isnโt us being difficult. Itโs us being realistic. Some Akitas are laid-back souls who wouldnโt even consider jumping over a step. Others? Theyโre Olympic level athletes who can scale a fence in seconds to chase a pigeonโฆ or next doorโs prize cockapoo-Shih Tzu cross. Weโve seen both ends of that spectrum.
Breed traits matter. Akitas can have strong hunting instincts and prey drive. While not every Akita displays this, it is always a risk we must account forโฆ
We often hear:
โ๐๐บ ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ช๐ต๐ข ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต.โ
โ๐โ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ 20 ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ ๐, ๐ ๐ก โฆโ
And we believe you. Truly. But not all akitas are the same…
We speak from lived experience, from the heartbreaking outcomes weโve had to deal with when a dog escapes: dogs going missing, being hit by cars, incidents that put the breed into disrepute, and in the very worst cases, dogs being seized or having to be put to sleep. These are not hypotheticals for us. These are memories.
So, if, during a home check, we ask you to reinforce a fence, increase the height or add trellis, or move items like BBQs, patio tables, or furniture away from fence lines, itโs because weโve watched dogs use them as launch pads before. We donโt want the dog youโre adopting to be another preventable tragedy.
This is also why we strongly prefer Akitas to have direct access to a secure, private garden. Under our adoption agreement, Akitas must not be off lead in public. That means your dog deserves a safe space where they can be outdoors, move freely, sniff, sunbathe, zoom, and decompress, untethered and secure.
Private hire dog fields are great for a change of scenery and letting off steam, but they are not a substitute for daily access to a secure garden.
These dogs have already come from difficult circumstances. The last thing we want is to see them returnedโฆor worse, for something that could have been avoided by following advice rooted in experience and care.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐
We also always ask if you live in rented accommodation and require proof of your landlordโs permission to keep a large breed dog. This is the number one reason dogs are put up for rehoming. If you do not have permission, please do not get a dog. It is not fair on them.
Sadly, weโve had some very difficult conversations recently with potential adopters who have used a relativeโs address on an adoption form while actually living elsewhere in unsuitable housing. We have seen dogs left with elderly or infirm relatives, or worse, chained up in gardens while owners are away at work all day, despite the form stating they work from home.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐: ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐. ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ โ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝโ ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด, ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ.
In the same spirit, there are situations where an Akita simply isnโt the right fit:
- If you live in a high-rise flat or house of multiple occupation – Living in a flat can present serious challenges for this breed. Akitas with separation anxiety may vocalise, causing issues with neighbours. Shared hallways, stairwells, and communal doorways can be stressful flashpoints, particularly when passing unfamiliar people or dogs in confined spaces. These situations can escalate quickly, not because the dog is โbad,โ but because the environment is unsuitable.
- If you work long hours and the dog would be left alone for extended periods. Dogs are pack animals and require socialisation and regular human interaction.
- If you do not have the financial means to care for a large breed: food, insurance, and vet bills included.
- If you want to adopt an akita in need as a security dog to live in an outdoor Kennel, or on a chain. (Surprisingly weโve been asked beforeโฆ. And itโs always a firm โNoโ from us!)
These arenโt judgments. Theyโre honest conversations we owe to the dogs.
๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด ๐
We also try our hardest to match the right dog to the right home. If you apply for a high-energy adolescent but your lifestyle suits a calmer, older Akita, please donโt be offended when we suggest that. Our goal is not to deny you, itโs to give a dog their forever home, not a temporary stop.
๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ง๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฉ
We receive a lot of criticism regarding childrenโs ages, but please understand: many of our dogs come with unknown or uncertain histories. Some were strays. Others come with information from previous owners or from our temperament assessors. If we say no young children or children aged 12+ only, it is for your childโs safety, even if your child is the next budding dog whisperer.
The same applies when we say no cats or no other dogs. These decisions are based on careful assessment. They protect the animals already in your home, the dog being adopted, and reduce the risk of a failed placement that would cause even more stress and upheaval for the dog.
๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด / ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฉบ๐ฅ๐
We also need to be very clear about our neutering policy. This is non-negotiable. Neutering is a fundamental part of our duty of care to prevent overbreeding and unwanted litters, the very reasons so many dogs end up in rescue in the first place.
It has been ARWโs policy for some time that we will fund the neutering or spaying of an adopted dog up to a set value. Veterinary costs are ever increasing, and the adoption fee certainly does not cover this expense. We absorb this cost because it is the right thing to do, for the dog, for the breed, and for rescue as a whole. If you are not in agreement with this, your application will be declined.
Every rule, every condition, every difficult conversation comes from a place of love, responsibility, and hard-earned experience.
That said, we want to be clear: we assess every application on its own merit and are always willing to have open, honest conversations and work with potential adopters where possible. What we will never do is compromise on a dogโs safety or wellbeing.
We know ourselves and many other rescues come under fire.
โ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ต.โ
โ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถโ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด.โ
โ๐๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ถ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐จ๐ด.โ
๐ง๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐: ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ!
๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ.
๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ.
๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐จ๐ด ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ข๐ญ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ.
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐น, ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ, ๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ.
Thank you for listening, and for caring enough to consider rescue. ๐พ๐งก
Signed,
Every Rescue Volunteer who has been on the end of rude, abusive and even threatening responses when we have had to decline an application!
