Rescue 📣 Adoption Update: DBS Trial Ending + Trial Adoptions + Microchipping from April

📣 Update: DBS Checks Trial and ID Checks (Adoptions)

Hi everyone 👋

We’re writing with an important update to our adoption process at APES Shelter & Rescue 🐾

Over the past nearly four months, we’ve been trialling DBS checks as part of our adoption checks. After reviewing how this works in practice, we’ve made the decision to end the DBS checks trial — it’s not viable for us to continue. ✅

✅ What this means going forward

• ❌ DBS checks will not be part of the standard adoption process
• 🪪 ID checks will continue for all adopters

We’re keeping ID checks because they help with:

• 🔐 Security for our team, volunteers, and animals
• 👤 confirming we’re adopting out to real, identifiable people
• 🛡️ limiting misuse of our systems and reducing fraud risks

This keeps the process practical, secure, and focused on what matters most: safe, responsible rehoming ❤️

🏡 From April: Trial Adoptions Will Be Available

From April, we’ll be introducing trial adoptions 🐾

Trial adoptions are there to help make sure an animal is being housed with the right adopter 🏡— giving both the adopter and the animal a supported opportunity to make sure the match is right in real-life circumstances.

We’ll share more details in a follow-up email soon, including what to expect and how it will work in practice 📩

🐰🐹 From April: Microchipping for Small Animals

From April, all small animals (including rabbits and guinea pigs) will be adopted out with microchips 📍

🧾 What adopters can expect

• 📌 You will receive the microchip number and details on the day of adoption
• 🗂️ The chip number will be added to our records too

Microchipping improves traceability and supports responsible ownership—especially if an animal goes missing or is found later 🔎

📬 What’s next

We’ll be sending further emails soon with additional details and updates as these changes roll out ✅

Thanks, as always, for supporting the work we do 💚

Warm regards,
APES Shelter & Rescue 🐾