FAQ
1. What is Free Dogs and Cats?
Free Dogs and Cats is a private animal rehoming platform dedicated to connecting people who want to adopt pets with those looking to rehome their dogs and cats. We offer a free service to help pets find loving homes and assist in the rehoming process.
2. How do I adopt a pet?
To adopt a pet, follow these steps:
Join our private Facebook rehoming groups:
Browse the posts and contact the pet's current owner if you are interested.
If the post is no longer visible, the pet has already been rehomed.
Ensure you understand our vetting process, which is designed to ensure the well-being of each animal.
For more information on responsible adoption, visit our blog section.
3. Is the adoption process free?
Yes, our platform is entirely free to use. There are no fees for adopting or rehoming pets.
4. How does the rehoming process work?
If you're looking to rehome your dog or cat:
Join our private Facebook rehoming group:
Create a post with detailed information about your pet, following the guidelines provided in our blog:
Dog rehoming guidelines: Read here
Cat rehoming guidelines: Read here
Familiarize yourself with our vetting process to ensure your pet is placed in a responsible home.
For more detailed information on rehoming, visit our blog.
5. How do I ensure my pet is going to a good home?
As the pet owner, you are responsible for ensuring your pet is rehomed to a suitable and caring home. We’ve put together a detailed vetting process to guide you through the steps. It’s important that you carefully screen potential adopters and provide them with all relevant information about your pet to make an informed decision.
We recommend following these key steps:
Provide Comprehensive Information: When creating your rehoming post, ensure it includes detailed information about your pet’s age, breed, temperament, behavior, health status, vaccinations, and any special needs. This transparency helps potential adopters make an informed decision.
Use Our Rehoming Guidelines: We’ve created specific guidelines to help you present your pet’s information effectively. These guidelines are available on our blog:
Vetting Potential Adopters: Our platform encourages a careful vetting process. It's crucial to engage with potential adopters and ask questions about their home environment, experience with pets, and commitment to responsible pet ownership.
Read the Blog for More Tips: For a more detailed breakdown of the vetting process and responsible rehoming practices, we invite you to explore our blog section. The blog provides insights to help guide you in finding the right match for your pet.
By following these steps, you ensure your pet is placed in a loving, responsible home that can meet its needs for the long term.
6. What should I include in my rehoming post?
When creating a post to rehome your pet, it's essential to provide detailed information. This should include:
The pet’s age, breed, temperament, and any special needs.
Health history, vaccinations, and any medical concerns.
Photos and videos that showcase your pet’s personality.
Visit our blog for specific tips on creating an effective rehoming post for your dog or cat:
7. Can I adopt or rehome a pet if I live outside New Zealand?
Currently, our platform is focused on rehoming pets within New Zealand. If you are looking to adopt or rehome a pet from outside of New Zealand, we recommend looking for local rehoming groups or shelters in your country.
8. Why am I being redirected to Facebook when trying to adopt or rehome a pet?
You may be redirected to Facebook when trying to adopt or rehome a pet because our rehoming groups are hosted on Facebook. It’s important to understand that:
Facebook Page vs. Facebook Group:
Our Facebook Page is where we advertise available pets and post general updates about the platform.
Our Facebook Group is where all the adoption and rehoming activity takes place. To adopt or rehome a pet, you must join the private Facebook Group for either dogs or cats.
Why this matters: The page and the group are separate entities. The page is public and used for announcements, while the group is private and where members interact directly to arrange adoptions and rehoming.
Rest assured, you're not going in circles!: If you’re following the links to our website, you’ll find all the details you need. Once on the website, you can proceed to join our Facebook group. Just remember, you need to join the group to interact with posts about adopting or rehoming pets.