Yorkie Rehoming in South Africa: Frequently Asked Questions

YorkieSA Private Rehoming provides clear, honest answers to the most common questions asked by owners and adopters across South Africa. Handled behind the scenes by the SA Yorkie Rescue (SAYR) adoptions team, our service ensures a structured home-to-home placement with no kennel stage.

Owner questions about rehoming

1. Does my Yorkie have to go into an animal shelter or kennel?

No. Your Yorkshire Terrier stays safely in your own home throughout the entire matching process. Handled by the experienced SAYR adoptions team, the preferred and normal path is straight from your home to the approved new family's home, with no kennel stage.

2. Is this service available only in South Africa?

Yes. YorkieSA Private Rehoming operates exclusively within the Republic of South Africa. We assist owners and screen adopting families across all provinces, in all nine provinces. Practical help depends on each case and the support available nearby.

3. Does it cost anything for an owner to rehome a Yorkie?

There is no charge to the owner for rehoming. If you decide not to go ahead after the process has been discussed and work has started, a cancellation fee applies. The team explains the terms privately before starting.

4. How long does the rehoming process usually take?

The timeline depends on your dog's age, medical profile, behaviour, and your geographic location. Placement is often within a week, but it depends on your Yorkie's needs and on suitable applications coming in. We can't promise a date.

5. How quickly will the adoptions team respond to my enquiry?

The team usually replies within an hour during business hours. This is the usual response, not a guaranteed deadline.

6. What happens if I have an urgent deadline, such as a flight?

If you face an urgent departure deadline, note your exact date on the rehoming request form. In an emergency the team may look for a suitable foster home, but one can't be guaranteed.

7. What happens if no adopter is found by my departure date?

Foster care isn't automatic. If your deadline is close, the team weighs the urgency and may look for a suitable foster home, but one can't be guaranteed. Starting early gives your Yorkie the best chance of going straight to a new home.

Will I meet the new family?

Usually, yes. Once the adopter is approved and the contract and payment are complete, the team puts you in touch so the handover can happen directly. Foster or transport arrangements can change how the handover works.

8. How is my personal privacy protected?

Only the adoptions team sees your request. Your contact details are not passed to anyone until an adopter has been approved and has completed the paperwork. Public profiles show town and province only, never your name or address.

9. Will my dog's details be posted on public social media?

We do not post your personal name, address, or phone number online. Your Yorkie's profile shows only their town and province.

10. Can I rehome a senior Yorkie or a dog with medical conditions?

Yes. Older terriers and dogs with manageable health conditions can be rehomed successfully. Full transparency regarding veterinary history, chronic medication, and daily routines is required. See our senior Yorkie guide.

11. Can two dogs be rehomed together as a bonded pair?

Yes. If two Yorkshire Terriers are genuinely bonded, the team prioritises placing them together in one approved home. Learn more in our bonded pair rehoming guide.

12. Can I rehome a Yorkie with behavioural challenges like barking or biting?

Yes, but complete honesty is mandatory. Concealing bite incidents or reactivity leads to failed placements. Full disclosure allows the team to match your dog with experienced adult handlers. See our behaviour concerns guide.

13. Do I get an update after my Yorkie is placed?

Where appropriate, messages or photos may be shared with you after placement, but this isn't guaranteed for every Yorkie.

14. What happens if the adoption does not work out?

Every adoption is covered by an adoption contract with return conditions. The adopter must contact SAYR, and the team arranges the next placement. Foster care is used where needed and available. The Yorkie does not automatically return to the original owner.

Adopter questions about adoption

15. How much is the adoption fee?

The adoption fee is never published. The team discusses it with adopters personally.

16. What vetting criteria must prospective adopters meet?

Adopters' homes are normally checked by video: walls, fences and gates (including small gaps a Yorkie could squeeze through), pool safety where there is a pool, and indoor sleeping areas. The team also asks about children's ages and other pets, may ask follow-up questions or for more footage, and may ask for a vet reference where relevant.

17. Does the team conduct a home visit?

Yes. The check is normally done by home video, with follow-up questions and more footage where needed. Photos or an in-person visit may also be used, depending on the case.

18. Can I adopt a puppy or teacup Yorkie?

Our service primarily places adult Yorkshire Terriers whose owners have faced life changes. We do not use commercial labels such as teacup, mini, or pocket, as these terms are misleading. Learn more about health considerations in our teacup Yorkie guide.

19. Do you arrange inter-provincial adoptions?

Yes, where approved, although a home in the same province is generally preferred. The adopter normally arranges and pays for transport, following the arrangements agreed with SAYR.

20. How do I apply to adopt a Yorkie privately?

To apply to adopt an adult terrier, see our private adoption page. There is no waiting list: applications may be kept on file, and each Yorkie is matched individually.

More rehoming guides