ADCH Standards

ADCH · Association of Dogs and Cats Homes

The membership standard for dog and cat rescues across the UK and Ireland, checked by assessment before a charity can join.

01 What It Is

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, founded in 1985, is the umbrella body for rescue and rehoming organizations across the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, with more than 160 member charities. Its Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards define what a responsibly run rescue must do, and they form the basis of membership.

02 What It Covers

The standards govern kennelling and housing, veterinary care, the rehoming process, record-keeping and the day-to-day operation of a rescue. They set a baseline suited to organizations of very different sizes, from large charities to small foster-based rescues, and the association also uses them to inform its responses to government consultations on animal welfare.

03 How It Is Checked

Membership is not automatic. Trained volunteer assessors evaluate an organization against the Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards, and prospective members are checked before they are admitted. Because the standards are owned and applied by the association rather than a single charity, ADCH membership functions as a recognized, peer-set mark of a responsibly run rescue.

04 Why It Matters

Anyone can call themselves a rescue, and a dog handed to a poorly run one can end up worse off than before. ADCH membership, backed by the major animal charities, gives an adopter or a donor a way to tell an assessed, accountable rescue from an unregulated one, in a sector that has no statutory licensing of its own.

Common Questions

Is it mandatory?

No. It is a voluntary membership standard, but because the standards are owned and applied by the association and backed by major charities, membership functions as a recognized mark of a responsibly run rescue.

Who runs it?

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, founded in 1985, the umbrella body for rescue and rehoming organizations across the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, with more than 160 member charities.

What does it cover?

Its Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards govern kennelling and housing, veterinary care, the rehoming process, record-keeping and the day-to-day operation of a rescue.

How is membership checked?

Membership is not automatic. Trained volunteer assessors evaluate an organization against the standards, and prospective members are checked before they are admitted.

Who does it apply to?

Rescue and rehoming organizations of very different sizes, from large charities to small foster-based rescues.

Why does it matter?

Anyone can call themselves a rescue, and a dog handed to a poorly run one can end up worse off. Membership gives an adopter or donor a way to tell an assessed, accountable rescue from an unregulated one.

Primary sources

About ADCHadch.org.uk