How nice that you are considering getting a dog through ACE|SHIN to adopt. In the following steps we will explain how a ACE|SHIN adoption process is underway. During this entire process there is always the possibility to contact the by telephone or email ACE|SHIN team.

Step 1 Adoption Database

In the main menu you will find our database of dogs for adoption under “Dogs”. You can see how many dogs are offered for adoption and it is possible to refine your search via various preferences such as age and gender. The dogs to be adopted are placed with a few photos and in most cases a video and where possible information about the background, origin and the way in which the dog is ACE|SHIN has arrived. You can also read at which location the dog currently resides: Spain, the Netherlands or Belgium.

Step 2 Choice

As soon as you click on the name of the dog you will see all the information. You will also find the contact details for adoption applications there. If you want to know who is behind the adoption team, click on Contact via the main menu, and select all contacts or a team from the Netherlands or Belgium.

Always clearly state the name and reference number of the dog in question in your email.

Step 3 Home visit

When you have signed up ACE|SHIN contact you within a few days. With an adoption request, the dog is temporarily placed in a pre-reservation. This means that as long as the intake phase is ongoing, other people cannot reserve this dog. After a positive intake phase, a home visit is arranged and the dog reserved for you. During this home visit, our adoption procedure is discussed, information is collected by means of an extensive questionnaire about the family composition and living environment in which the dog may end up and the adoption contract is discussed. This is not an exam but a precaution in which we try to find the right match for both the dog and the adopter.

You can always indicate to our contact persons that you would like to be on the waiting list, should the pre-reservation be cancelled. A pre-booking takes a maximum of 10 days.

Step 4 Adoption contribution

After consultation between the home visitor and the adoption officer, you will be notified whether you can adopt the dog. We ask you to transfer the adoption amount. As soon as the adoption amount is in the account of ACE|SHIN is credited, the dog will be scheduled for transport.

All dogs that enter our rescue center receive the best care. We use the diagram below to give you an idea of what the adoption contribution entails. The prices below give an indication of what a vet would normally charge for such a treatment or procedure.

We also pay costs for buying out a dog from the killing station (between € 35 and € 55), the general care during the stay in our shelter, the transport of the dog to Belgium, the Netherlands or other adoptive countries.

For all this we ask for for Belgium and the Netherland an adoption contribution of € 395.
For other countries outside Spain, you can request the adoption contribution from the coordinators of the country. The adoption amount may differ due to different transport costs.
For adoptions within Spain, the adoption contribution is € 300. 
For dogs older than 10 years, we ask an adoption contribution of € 325, -.
The adoption amount for rehomers is: € 350. 
If you opt for a duo adoption, the compensation is: € 730. 
You will understand that we cannot cover the full costs with this adoption fee.

What else is good to know

• All our dogs are castrated or sterilized, provided their age and health permits. Some dogs are already castrated/sterilized upon arrival.
• All our dogs are tested at the time of castration/sterilization (regardless of age). If they are already castrated/sterilized, they are tested during their quarantine period.
• If the dog has not yet been castrated / sterilized on departure (due to health or age), this must still be done after the adoption (at your own expense). You must provide proof of castration/sterilization to the main responsible person of the country in which you reside.

Step 5 Adoption contract

The adoption of your dog is officially recorded in an adoption contract. You can download the adoption contract from our site.

Step 6 Arrival of the dog

You can pick up your dog. The transport planning coordinator will contact you well in advance about the arrival date, time and location. What to take with you to the arrival:

• adoption contract;
• an adjustable belt and harness;
• bottle of water and a bowl;
• poop bag for any accidents at the place of arrival.

Upon arrival (airport or road transport pick-up location) you will meet the transport attendant of ACE|SHIN. This can be recognized by the green ACE|SHIN body warmer. The transport attendant opens the travel cages and hands you over your dog. At the transfer, the adoption contract will be signed (sometimes this has already been done before). You will receive the dog's passport containing the chip number and proof of vaccinations. Once the transport supervisor has released the dog and the forms have been signed off, you can go home with your new family member.

Aftercare

The aftercare team will contact you after about two weeks to find out how the dog in your family is doing. You can also ask them any questions you may have. The second aftercare takes place after 3 months and the third aftercare after a year.

If you have any questions, you can always email them at one of the following addresses:

What else you need to know before adopting a dog from ACE|SHIN

• Dogs need to get used to their new home. It takes at least a month for them to understand what is expected of them. Some dogs, such as those that have only been left outside on a leash, will need to learn how to behave indoors. However, most of these dogs are very quick to learn and will love nothing more than to please their new owners.
• Every dog ​​has its own personality and ACE|SHIN will try to give the best possible character sketch of the dog for adoption. Some dogs are very shy. Although many dogs have been mistreated, this may not always be the reason for the reluctance. They may also be homesick for their previous boss or have had a hard time trying to survive on the street. Anyway, with love and patience, but above all with an understanding of their past, you can achieve a lot, but this often does not happen overnight. Only when you have discovered and analyzed his entire backpack can you grow together towards a friendship for life. Every dog ​​is a friend, but that has to grow and with some of our dogs you just have time and work with this. And you have to want to work on that, only then can you be sure of a successful adoption.
• The expression “You can't judge something by its exterior” also applies to our dogs. Most dogs are crosses of irreducible ancestry. So don't be surprised if a dog looks like one breed but behaves like a dog of a completely different breed.
• Some dogs will have diarrhea for the first few days after arrival. This is almost never a sign that they are sick, but rather due to a change of feed. As the dog becomes accustomed to new food, stick with it, or - if it does need to change - change it gradually. Bee ACE|SHIN the dogs are used to kibble.
• We are often asked if the dog is already potty trained. That varies per dog. Some dogs are potty trained right away, others take a little longer. A dog may already have been potty trained, but have forgotten that during his life on the street or in the shelter. It is important to realize that the dog still has to learn where to relieve himself, when to do it and how often he is given the opportunity to do so.
• ACE|SHIN advises everyone after they have adopted a dog, to give this dog the time to get used to the new situation and especially not to take long walks, but to build it up slowly. The dogs have often been in a kennel for a long time and their muscles have to be rebuilt. If long walks are taken too soon, the dog can get complaints.
• On arrival, the dogs are measured and weighed. Often they end up very thin and malnourished, neglected and weak. Please also take into account that the weight on departure can be different than when the dog arrives. Dogs that come from a home situation or have had a good owner often lose weight, so we ask you to always take differences into account.
• We do not deliver perfect dogs, so keep in mind that you may incur additional medical costs in the beginning.
• It is mandatory in the Netherlands to use a safety harness, via ACE|SHIN available or you can purchase it yourself. You must have this harness with you on arrival, otherwise the dog is not allowed to go home.