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The Scottish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue is an entirely voluntary organisation. We are totally dependant on donations and fundraising efforts. To this end we are always very grateful for any donation you can afford, however small it may seem to you. We also organise fundraisers and a sponsored walk every year. We have a sponsored walk in spring in Glasgow and a fun dog show in Edinburgh. These are always lots of fun and we guarantee that at the dog show there is a class for EVERY dog whether pooch, Pedigree or three-legged mutt. We attend car-boot sales whenever possible and are always on the look out for bric-a-brac and jumble that we might Sell. Donations of old dog leads, collars, beds, toys, food and anything else you no longer require are also of great help to us. Any other fund-raising ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, or perhaps you could hold a fund-raiser of your own.

Everybody that contacts the SSBTR with a view to adopting a Stafford, do so because they claim to love the breed. However, not many people seem to have taken on board that this is a RESCUE, we are not breeders, as such we are looking for kind, loving, permanent homes prepared to take on a RESCUE dog. This means that the dogs that we are trying to re-home may not be the Crufts-winning, sleek-coated gladiator of a dog that your next-door neighbour has. In fact it is more likely to be a slightly ragged but loveable rogue with possibly middle age spread setting in (maybe a case of fleas to boot). If you are a genuine lover of animals and feel that you could offer a better quality of life to one of our" little darlings" then PLEASE PLEASE contact us on one of the telephone numbers listed under our SSBTR Contact Details page.

Find out more here on how you can get involved

Originally set up in England 1971 by Mr Vic Pounds, a branch was later opened in Glasgow in the following year by Mrs Joanna Mason. The Scottish Rescue as it is today was started in 1975 by Kay Carmichael (now Duchess of Hamilton).

A Committee chaired by the Duchess of Hamilton manages the Rescue, which operates all over Scotland. Individual members of the Committee each take a share in the workload. They are supported by a number of volunteers. The Rescue is contacted on a daily basis by vets, the SSPCA, owners, dog homes, and members of the public seeking to find or to offer homes for dogs. Those wanting general information about the breed also contact the Rescue.

Following the initial contact, the member geographically closest will visit the dog's current owner and discuss what might be the best future for the dog. Generally this will result in the dog being taken into care by the Rescue. The dog will either find shelter with a Rescue approved foster owner or in the Rescue's own kennels. If the dog requires it, veterinary treatment will be provided. Should the dog require neutering, this will be arranged. Efforts will then be made to find the right home for the dog. E.g. an older dog might be better placed with an older family. This will involve advertising, or use of the Rescue's extensive personal contacts. The Rescue maintains a list of prospective owners. If you would like to be put on that list please make contact through one of the names in our contact us section. In every case, before placing the dog, a visit will be made to the home of the prospective owner. The Rescue operates a fee system for placements depending on the dog's age, condition, requirement for veterinary attention, etc. The current fees range from £75 - £100 , though in certain cases fees are waived.

The Rescue operates strict rules for adoption, which can be found here The Rescue relies entirely on voluntary donations and undertakes a number of fund-raising activities each year. The major one is an annual Exemption Show held under Scottish Kennel Club rules for various classes of pedigreed and non-pedigreed animals. Other events have included sponsored walks and fashion shows.