Charity run by amateurs
I found Spaniel Aid by searching the internet for the spaniel rescue and after doing a lot of research on the breed and feeling that spaniels would best be suited to my active lifestyle. Unfortunately, my experience with SA has been disappointing. Over the course of a few months, I submitted four applications for an adult dogs and applied for nine pups. There was no option to apply for each pup individually; had this been possible, I would have done so. In total, this resulted in 13 unsuccessful applications.
I fully appreciate that SA is run by volunteers and recognise the time and effort involved in operating a charity. However, I believe there is significant room for improvement when it comes to providing feedback—particularly for applicants who apply multiple times without success. Without proactively raising the issue, I would have continued applying, unaware that I had little to no chance of ever being approved. That’s actually shocking.
I was eventually informed that my applications were rejected due to perceived inconsistencies in my working hours, which were said not to meet their requirements. I would like to be clear that I was completely honest and transparent in all of my applications. My work pattern varies: some weeks I work from home full‑time, while other weeks I am in the office one or two days. When I am out of the house, it is for a maximum of five hours, and I made it clear that a dog walker could be arranged if needed. The right thing would have been to reach out and query “inconsistencies” which could have been easily clarified.
I provided extensive information to support my application, including my vets details, access to an Instagram account documenting the life of my late dog (showing that he went on many adventures and had a great life ), and a link to my local area, which clearly shows that my garden backs onto a 400‑hectare nature reserve. Despite this, my applications were still unsuccessful.
Now that my children are adults, I was genuinely keen to offer a loving home to a dog in need and was committed to adopting rather than purchasing from a breeder. Sadly, based on this experience, adoption through this charity no longer an option to me.
It is disheartening, particularly given the number of dogs in need of homes. Such a a shame .
They didn’t like my review on the Facebook so blocked me . Charity run by amateur. Will be filing an official complaint.
28 April 2026
Unprompted review