F.A.Q.

A collection of the most frequently asked questions we receive here, compiled to ensure clarity and provide assistance:

1. We don’t perform dog behavior tests involving birds and small animals: cats, bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs etc. We don’t have a large variety of animals on site, and we lack the time and human resources required to test, desensitize or counter-condition our rescues to different species of pets. We believe every dog can be trained with the right guidance, but it’s the owner’s responsibility to ensure it.
2. We don’t test the dog’s level of resilience around children. It’s important to teach children how to live with a dog and make sure they will interact respectfully before bringing a dog home. Always closely supervise interactions between dogs or puppies and children.
3. We have no lineage information. We rescue dogs from pounds and emergency situations; the vast majority of our rescues have an unknown background. Unless we run a DNA test, the breed or breeds mix is an estimate based on physical characteristics and temperament.
4. We don’t ship dogs to adoptive families – we want to make sure every match is a great one. That means meeting the dog in person, considering the family and the dog’s feedback and making sure there is compatibility and a real connection with their new family. We also recommend bringing along any current canine family members so they can meet the potential new addition, as their interaction and bond are just as important. We adopt nationwide provided the owners are able to travel.
5. We don’t conduct in-person property checks. We rent to tenants. Our focus is on the owner, not the property. We value commitment, responsibility, experience with dogs, and overall canine expertise. Properties can change hands, fences can go up or come down, but what truly matters is the human-dog connection and the quality of a bond that should last 10–15 years and withstand life’s inevitable changes.
6. All visits must be booked in advance and are limited to one or two dogs with a submitted and reviewed adoption inquiry. We have a very strict schedule to address the needs of all dogs, including neonatal, unwell or non-social ones, and we can’t accommodate walk-ins or allow visitors to wander through to have a look.
7. All dogs on the premises that are over 6 weeks old are health checked and vaccinated against Parvo, with no exceptions.We have multiple dogs on premises and their health and safety is paramount. We aim to vaccinate every dog before or shortly after entering the premises, and keep all rescues segregated for the first 8 days on site. Visitors’ dogs meeting a potential new member of the family will need to be up to date on their parvo vaccinations before entering the premises.
8. We don’t desex puppies and dogs under 2 years old. We know all too well about the dog overpopulation problem, as it’s something we face every day. We strive to rehome only to truly responsible owners, carefully balancing the general principles with what’s best for each individual dog. We do recommend desexing adult dogs over 2 years old, but it’s important to remember this is a major, permanent procedure that impacts their development and entire endocrine system, so it should be considered with the utmost care. It’s a good idea to run DNA health tests beforehand to identify any potential genetic conditions that could be influenced by the loss of protective hormones, like a higher (or lower) risk of certain cancers. A dog’s DNA results, along with a risks-and-benefits chart based on age and lifestyle, should be reviewed with a veterinarian on an individual basis.
9. We don’t desex pregnant females, females on heat or fearful males. We don’t desex pregnant females or those in heat for health reasons, as the higher risk of bleeding can be dangerous for the dog. We also avoid desexing fearful males, since lowering testosterone can further reduce their confidence and potentially cause or worsen fear-based aggression.
10. All dogs at JDC are microchipped shortly after entering premises and registered with NZCAR. We update the contact to the new owner shortly after adoption, and provide JDC Rescue contact as secondary in the NZCAR database. We retain the right to take possession and ownership of the dog if any of the contract provisions are in breach (roaming and non breeding in particular).
11. Training levels and domestic manners. We work with pound dogs whose genetics, past experiences, training and neural patterns are often unknown. Our top priority is dog-to-dog socialization and spotting any reactivity toward people or other dogs, and we’re always upfront about any observations. Our observations are no guarantees that the dog will react in the same way in a different environment. We don’t prioritize domestic manners (ie jumping during greeting, leash walk) as we consider these aspects can be addressed at home in a safe manner. We work towards potty training all puppies, the results may vary for the younger ones and females.
12. Returns. The contract provisions do not grant an owner the right to adopt out, sell, or surrender a dog without first contacting us. Within the limit of our capacity, we take back our JDC rescues if an owner can’t or won’t keep them. It’s never the outcome we hope for. While some returns happen due to genuine emergencies, others come from owners changing their minds or shifting priorities. Both puppies and adult rescues require a lot of work, and if you’re not ready to commit the time and effort, it’s best to wait. A rescue dog isn’t a toy—they’re sentient, complex animals capable of deep bonds. Your commitment and responsibilities should be thought through very carefully before deciding to adopt.
13. The adoption donation of $290 covers only a small part of the costs for each dog. We keep this donation low because we want to give the owners the chance to invest in their new dog. We don’t fundraise, but we warmly welcome and truly appreciate donations from those willing to support our rescue dogs, whether through financial contributions or by providing dog food and supplies. Our account number is 38-9027-0283734-00, registered to JACK DOG CENTER LIMITED. Dog food and supplies can be picked up by our rescue team or dropped off at our premises at 55 Leader Road, RD1, Poroporo.