DORSET animal rehoming centres are reopening with new measures in place to allow future pet owners to adopt animals and make them part of the family.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue and Cats Protection have set up new ways of visits and adoptions taking place.

Taylors Animal Rehoming Centre at Kingston Maurward remains closed but you can sponsor animals to raise desperately needed funds.

Centres had to close due to coronavirus but, as lockdown measures have been eased, they are keen to get their fluffy tenants rehomed into loving families.

Margaret Green has already rehomed 50 animals with their new system, which has been in place for about a month.

They are taking bookings to come and see the animals after initial virtual meetings have taken place.

Jazmin House, fundraising and marketing manager for Margaret Green, said: “We are now pre-registering interest of animals via an online form, telephone calls and video meetings, which has been a positive step for both the charity and rehomers.

“Once we find the right match we then discuss in more detail ahead of booking a rehoming appointment for them to then visit. The animals are then going home with their new family that day, which is a new way of rehoming for us but it is working really well.”

Taylors rehoming centre has an adoption and appeals page at/www.westdorsetrspca.org/pleasehelpus.

The RSPCA’s charity shops are closed and they desperately need donations.

A number of Cats Protection centres, including Ferndown which covers rehoming in Blandford Forum, Bere Regis and Wareham, have introduced a hands-free rehoming system as a way of rehoming cats as safely as possible.

Gemma Nethersole, regional media officer for Cats Protection, said of the Ferndown site: “The centre is taking part in the new hands-free homing scheme which is part of Cats Protection’s carefully controlled response to lockdown restrictions and their impact on its ability to safely home cats.

“Since the new way of rehoming began at the end of May, it has homed 13 cats and had nine more reserved and a further 19 in care ready to find homes of their own.

“The scheme sees photos, videos and descriptions of cats available to rehome posted on the centre’s website. Much like online dating, if a match is made virtually, a meet-up via phone or video call is arranged by staff from the centre who then confirm suitability with a simple welfare questionnaire and a series of checks.

“Once the adoption fee has been paid, the cat will be delivered to its new home in a Cats Protection van, with social distancing rules strictly observed at all times.”

Lou Keeling, regional centre operations manager for the South West and South Wales, added: “While we ensure the cats are lavished with care while they’re with us, a centre is no substitute for a real home so we have been thrilled to work in this new way.”

For more information on rehoming an animal, visit the Taylors Rehoming Centre, Margaret Green and Cats Protection websites.