Dog rescue organisations provide vital welfare services but face challenges around rehoming standards and kennel welfare.
Dog rescue welfare exists across two critical phases — welfare during kennel housing and welfare matching to appropriate adopters. Kennel stress causes genuine welfare compromise including reduced immune function, elevated cortisol, and behavioural changes that make dogs appear more difficult than they are in normal environments. Foster programs dramatically improve welfare during this period and produce more accurate behavioural assessments. Careful matching of rehomed dogs to adopters capable of meeting their needs prevents welfare problems post-adoption.