Rehoming or Adopting a Dog from a Shelter or from Abroad
Many animals are looking for a home
Rehoming or adopting a dog comes with many benefits for you as an owner, and it also gives the dog a safe home to come to. There are many different reasons why someone relocates their dog, with a change in family situation or living arrangements being two of the most common reasons. In some EU countries there is a high population of homeless dogs and there are many organisations working to provide homes for these dogs in Germany. When choosing to rehome or adopt a dog, there are a few things you should consider.
In order to create the best possible conditions for the dog and you as the owner, you should find out the facts about the dog. This is to avoid unpredictable situations. Examples of questions you can ask previous owners or transferees are the following:
Is the dog healthy?
How does it get on with other dogs?
Is the dog afraid of anything?
Is it housebroken?
What is the reason for the relocation?
Insurance for the dog
The dog does not need to have a veterinary examination to be insured with Lassie. However, what may be useful to know is that the insurance does not cover injuries/diseases that have occurred within the last 24 months. Because of this, it is extra important that you are aware of your dog's health when you take it over. If you are taking over a dog that is insured with Lassie, both you and the previous owner will need to contact us to confirm that the insurance will be transferred to you.
Registering the dog
In Germany, it is mandatory to register the dog with the municipality or city and pay dog tax. This must be done within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the jurisdiction. In the case of a puppy, it is usually not necessary to pay dog tax until the dog is 3 months old. In addition to the tax, some states also require dogs to be registered. It may also be mandatory to purchase dog owner liability insurance. This differs from state to state.
When to get insurance
To take out an insurance for an imported dog at Lassie, you have to wait until the dog has arrived in Germany. You can insure your dog with us even without a veterinary certificate and the insurance can take effect immediately on the selected start date. However, please note: There is a general waiting period of 30 days for illness. However, this does not apply to necessary treatment measures in the event of an accident, within the scope of the preventive care lump sum as well as for telemedicine.
The insurance does not cover illnesses caused by parasites and/or infections that the dog brought with it when it entered Germany. The insurance also does not cover injuries or problems that the dog already had when it was brought to Germany.
Give your new family member time
Remember that it can take time for your dog to get used to its new surroundings and to its new owners, and patience is important - especially if the dog is coming here from another country and has had an unsafe life in the past.
