Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our dogs come from Florida, but we have, in desperate situations, gone as far as West Virginia to help Cavaliers in need.

Florida shelters:

Our volunteers comb the websites of Florida shelters looking for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels which we save from being destroyed. (Yes, people do drop them off at shelters when they do not want a dog anymore.) Many times, strays are also a sad reality. CRF also checks craigslist for Cavaliers who need a new home. Puppy Mills:

Sadly, some of our dogs come from puppy mill raids. We are contacted by the agency who does the mill busts to take care of the Cavaliers who have been severely neglected. We have also gotten cavaliers who have been dumped at an auction after living their youthful breeding years in horrible puppy mills. Owner Surrenders:

We take in dogs from owners who can no longer care for their Cavaliers because of life changes. Some are moving and are not allowed to have pets. For some, job loss has caused financial chaos. One of the saddest reasons Cavaliers come into rescue is they have an elderly owner who is going into a nursing home or has passed away. ​ Vets:

Occasionally, we get calls from vets who want us to take in a Cavalier who has been abandoned at his office or dropped off to be euthanized.

Breeders:

Sometimes breeders will give us their retired Cavaliers to place in loving homes after their breeding years are behind them.

Be ready when they’re ready!

The first step is to complete the CRF “adoption application” form. It’s important to read and complete all sections accurately, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through! This is the initial way the Placement Team gets to know you.

CRF has a rigorous and specialized program for our custom Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adoptions. We consider ourselves “matchmakers” – the Placement Team matches the dog and their specific needs to a home and family that already offers what that particular dog needs. Though you might be enamored with a certain dog, if you do not have the home or lifestyle that the Cavalier needs, CRF will not match you to that Cavalier.

Our mission is to place a Cavalier in a home that meets THEIR needs – we are all about finding that furever, happy place for each dog! It is a very detailed, time-consuming and individualized process. We need to assure a perfect fit for both our pups and our adopter families. This is a big difference between CRF and a shelter, and even some other Rescues.

If you are truly interested in adopting, it’s best if you apply to CRF before you even see a Cavalier of interest on our website. If you happen to see a Cavalier that you ARE interested in – who wouldn’t fall in love with their sweet faces – be sure to completely read their bio and understand the implications for you and your lifestyle. If you offer what that specific Cavalier needs for a happy life, then mention their name and your interest in the application.

We do! The adopting family is required to go to the home where the Cavalier is fostered to pick up their new furbaby. The options are that you drive or fly, but if you fly the Cavalier MUST travel with you in the plane’s cabin. We will NEVER ship a Cavalier or allow one of our Cavaliers to travel in cargo.

You don't have to live or be a US citizen to adopt from CRF, but all fees, paperwork and travel requirements are the sole responsibility of the adopter. All requirements must be met prior to taking the dog into your possession.

CRF is an all-volunteer organization. Most of our team have part-time/full-time jobs, families, other obligations, etc. CRF receives hundreds of applications each month and it’s impossible to personally contact each applicant.

You will here back from a Placement Team volunteer once we determine a potential match. This is why it’s important to fully complete the application, and to send one in before you see a dog that steals your heart.

That’s difficult to answer. Since we customize each adoption--matching a Cavalier according to THEIR needs, we will search through our extensive database of applicants looking for the perfect home for that Cavalier. Some applicants have waited over a year; some have their dreams made true within months.

We keep our applications on file for one year. In full transparency, if you have not heard back from us within 30 -60 days, your adoption application most likely did not meet the very exacting standards for our custom adoption protocol for the pups we currently have in rescue at this time. Feel free to apply to our volunteer program and support the many Cavaliers we have in Rescue! https://www.cavrescuefl.org/volunteer-application

CRF is based throughout Florida, we get Cavaliers from across the state through various areas:

· Relinquished from prior owners who can no longer care for the dog, for various reasons

· Shelters across the state

· Newspaper ads and Craig’s List

· Breeder releases

· Abandonment, as strays

· Puppy mill closures and raids

· Cavaliers that go to auction are there as castoffs from a puppy mill. They might be no longer “producing” puppies, or are sick, or maybe that puppy mill is closing down.

Whatever the reason, CRF has a special donation fund, My Ticket Home, where we pull the funds that enable us to go in and scoop up as many Cavaliers as we can, no matter their condition.

Our goal is to stop the inhumane treatment of these dogs and responsibly vet, rehabilitate and place a Cavalier in the best home for each one.

My Ticket Home is funded by caring donors, such as you. If you would like to specifically donate to that fund, please click here.

Rescued Cavaliers are immediately placed in a loving foster home. The foster parent is responsible for socializing, ongoing training (when necessary), taking the dog to vet/specialist appointments, and providing a loving interim home.

During the time the Cavalier is with their Foster, the foster parent assesses the needs of the Cavalier. It’s important to note that the foster parent has an important role in the adoption process, since they know their rescued Cavalier the best.

CRF does not have a central shelter facility. Our rescued Cavaliers are in foster homes across the state of Florida, and even beyond – we have Fosters in close by surrounding states.

Once a potential adopter is selected for a Cavalier, the adopter is usually encouraged to visit the Cavalier at a planned meet-and-greet at the foster’s home.

Sometimes. Young, Blenheim female pups are the most popular Cavaliers, so we have a waiting list which is influenced by the needs of the individual Cavalier.

Otherwise, we do not have formal waiting lists because the Placement Team matches each Cavalier, based on his/her needs, to an adoptive family as a custom adoption.

We always have a need for more volunteers, but this is NEVER a guarantee.

For example, we might have a long-time volunteer that lives in a lovely condo by the beach, without another dog, who might fall in love with the face of a Cavalier that LOVES running around a yard and playing with doggie siblings. The Placement Team would not recommend this match because the Cavalier loves running a yard with doggie friends, neither of which is part of this volunteer’s lifestyle.

CRF is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and we rely solely on donations and non-paid volunteers for the care of every Cavalier we rescue. Donation fees are far below the costs associated with medical, specialty and dental care, feeding and other related expenses.

Your donation goes towards the rescue of TWO Cavaliers – the one you’re adopting, and the next one coming into Rescue.

The adoption fees are primarily based on age; the higher fees are associated with younger Cavaliers, and they become lower the older the Cavalier.

A fenced yard is not always required; it is solely based on the needs of the Cavalier.