About Spanish Happy Tails Rescue UK, a Spanish Dog Rescue
Established in 2021, Spanish Happy Tails is a volunteer-run UK based rescue.
We are a dedicated team of volunteers who support Animals Help, a shelter in Spain.
Our mission is to connect incredible Spanish rescue dogs with loving homes in the UK.
If you are searching for a loyal companion and would love to adopt a dog, we might well know your perfect match.
We have all adopted rescue dogs from Spain and believe every dog deserves a warm and loving home.
Together, we are making a difference, one happy tail wag at a time.
We promote the work that we do and also the work of other dog rescues who support rescue dogs from Animals Help. We are building an informative website for anyone interested in adopting a Spanish rescue dog, to reach more people and spread awareness of rescue dogs from Spain.
Hundreds of thousands of animals are thought to be abandoned every year in Spain. Hunting dogs are not covered by welfare laws which leads to abandonment and inhumane killing of some dogs when they are no longer required when hunting season is over.
Buddy before and after being adopted
How do I adopt a dog from Spain?
Potential adopters complete an application form, their answers enable us to understand their lifestyle, home situation, experience with dogs and expectations of adopting a rescue dog from Spain. From there, we continue to a home check where we can discuss the application in full, the dog they are applying to adopt, dog body language and behaviours they may show when they first arrive home eg not eating, drinking or toileting straight away. Everything is new for the dog who may not have lived in a home before, understanding their subtle body language is key to being able to understand how they are coping and how you can help them.
Likely, the dogs rescued from the streets have not lived in a home before, so the smells and sounds of home will be new to them. Adopters also need to consider that the dog has travelled by road for over a day, sometimes two, so they need time to decompress and adjust to their new environment.
It is important to have a secure garden to ensure your new rescue dog is safe and unable to jump over fences or escape under one.
Younger children can sometimes be unintentionally high-energy, which might overwhelm a rescue dog adjusting to a new life. For this reason, we ask that resident children be of a certain age. We understand that all children are different so encourage people to contact us to discuss if their child has not yet reached the age of 10. We do consider applications for people who work full time however, if they work in an office/away from home they would need to have support in place so the dog was not left alone for prolonged periods.
Once your adoption is confirmed the shelter and the rescue deal with everything required for your dog to travel.
There are misconceptions that street dogs are unhealthy or bad dogs, and while it is true that many rescued dogs need worm, flea and tick treatment when they first arrive at the shelter, this should not stop them from finding a home of their own. Blood tests are performed to check for Leishmaniasis, Brucella canis, heartworm and other diseases. Responsible adoption is important to us, not only in relation to the homes the dogs go to, their assessments in the shelter but also the health checks that are done before adoption.
Not knowing the history of a dog is also an understandable concern for some people. We can tell you everything we know about how the dog is now, not how they behaved in the past. A quote we love is, "You can't change a dog's past, but you could rewrite his future"-original origin unknown.
We understand that adopting a dog you have not met before takes the utmost trust in the organisation you are dealing with and the more you know of the dogs the more you can understand their characters. We are able to connect you directly with the shelter and can answer any questions you have about the dog you would like to adopt, they will also send photo and video updates to you.
Many Spanish rescue dogs have faced challenging circumstances before ending up in shelters. This can make them adaptable and resourceful. Spain has a long history with working dogs, and many Spanish breeds are known for their quick learning abilities. If you are looking to adopt a dog, there are many out there looking for a home and we would encourage people to consider adopting a dog from Spain.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Spain?
Our adoption fee to adopt a rescue dog from Spain is £145, which includes-
Microchip (registered to your details on entry to the UK)
Pet passport
Neutering (adult dogs)
Vaccination
Health certificate
Blood tests for Brucella canis, Leishmania, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Anaplasmosis), filaria (heartworm), ehrlichia canis and Borrelia burdorgferi (Lyme disease).
APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) notified of the dog travelling to the UK.
Access to our private community group for adopters.
Transport from Spain to the UK is £300 for England and starts at £380 to Scotland.
Libra’s story
18 months in the shelter, a fantastic dog with no enquiries.
That was until the perfect email landed in our inbox.
“He’s a lovely boy with a lovely character we’re very happy with him.”
-Jane, Libra’s adopter
