Pawprints to Freedom

Pawprints to Freedom is a UK-registered charity (charity no. 1194754) that began in 2017 and now runs on a network of more than 100 volunteers. It rescues dogs in Romania — where it runs its own shelter — and rehomes them across mainland UK. Some dogs are already in UK foster homes or kennels by the time they're listed. This is the rescue we adopted Barnie through.

The fee and what it covers

The standard adoption fee for mainland UK is around £520, though it can vary depending on the individual dog and your location. It covers transport to the UK, vaccinations and tests, microchip (and changing it to you), pet passport, import customs, and spay/neuter for dogs over 9 months old, so the figure is close to the true all-in cost, not a starting point.

• Puppies under 9 months: an extra £100 neutering deposit, refunded if you have the dog neutered within 6 months of arrival.
• Older dogs: the rescue offers reduced fees, fundraising the difference, to give older dogs a better chance of a home.
• Cancelling: the rescue's adoption pack says £175 of the fee is non-refundable if you cancel before the dog boards the transport, and all of it once the dog has boarded. Its adopt page says "£175 of the fee is non-refundable if you cancel your reservation", whether the dog is already in the UK or has started its journey. The two pages are worded differently, so confirm the terms with the rescue before paying.

Fostering is free. You can foster a dog (with the option to adopt later) at no cost, which is a good route in if you're not ready to commit to the full fee up front.

The process

A virtual home check is required before you can adopt, along with a £20 refundable deposit that's deducted from the adoption fee. Applications start through their website.

Their rehoming decisions are made per dog, based on each dog's temperament and assessment:

• Children — generally homes with children aged 4+, with the exact minimum age depending on the individual dog.
• Cats — considered case by case; dogs are cat-tested in Romania or in UK foster homes where possible.
• No garden — flat and gardenless applications are considered depending on the dog's energy, temperament, and access to nearby green space.

Transport

Dogs travel from Romania on the rescue's own dedicated transport (the "Happy Bus"), which runs roughly every few weeks as vehicle capacity allows. In practice, expect somewhere around 4 to 8 weeks from reservation to arrival.

After you adopt

Adopters get rescue back-up (RBU): if something serious and unforeseen happens, such as a life-changing illness, the rescue will do its best to find the dog a suitable new placement. The rescue's adoption pack is clear that it's for exceptional circumstances only, not a change of mind, and that settling can take months. Adopters also get access to dedicated post-adoption Facebook groups and ongoing advice from the rescue's volunteers.

Where to find them

• Website: pawprints2freedom.co.uk
• Apply to adopt: pawprints2freedom.co.uk/apply
• Adoption pack (dogs): pawprints2freedom.co.uk/info-packs
• Facebook community: facebook.com/groups/pawprints2freedom

Details verified 15 October 2026 from the rescue's own website, adoption pack and the Charity Commission register, to the best of our knowledge. Fees and policies change, so always confirm directly with the rescue.