Pawprints to Freedom Reviews 

Neutral review. We have had our dog a month and a half now and I feel able to write a review. The process: a form to complete, communication good with our admin (thank you), payment wanted before viewing the contract which I found odd but I went ahead (knowing if I didn't like the contract, I would receive a refund). Our home checker was lovely. Our reserved dog met our needs and we his and we brought him home. We weren't able to visit him at the Essex kennels, PPTF did not allow adopters on site we were told. A local dog park was suggested but because of the travel time a KFC car park was suggested as it had a greenery space and closer. We agreed to this. Handover took place timely and within 5mins we had our dog in our car and on our way home. The process from reservation to bringing him home was a little over a week if I remember correctly. A 7 month old puppy. On arrival, he stunk (as we were pre warned). He did have fecal matter stuck to his rear end and was dirty, he is placid enough to allow us to wash him this same day (please note, this isn't shared as a deterrent). We found him to have patches of thinning fur and bare spots on his elbows once we washed the dirt from him. He is a cream coloured dog and the bath water was a chocolate brown- this is not a deterrent. Some people return their dogs it seems because of the smell, please see this as an informative review to be considered. Not all dogs will be able to be bathed as soon as ours was. We were informed which food he was eating at the Essex kennels and that he was doing fine on it, of course bought this- a new home is enough change without the food. Unfortunately, the kibble did not agree with him as we were told and soon after we realised he wasn't coping with the food. He is intolerant to grains and have switched to a grain free diet and all is well (same protein in both kibbles). We also found after a couple of weeks he has environmental allergies. Our vet informed us the symptoms he has is more common amongst puppies and reoccurs amongst the puppies affected; once the puppy becomes an adult, most of the puppies grow out of the allergy response but some adult dogs do remain allergic. Reoccuring prescription for this. I have asked our admin if our dog had signs of allergies whilst at the Essex kennels and I await a response (almost 2 weeks since asking). Being in a kennel environment, perhaps this was missed. We were not informed of food or environmental allergies and told he is a healthy dog. I did notice an Amazon essential list was advertised for the Essex kennels where pumpkin powder, kaolin paste was included. I did share with our admin the essential list and what we found with our dog as an informative message. We live on the border of a wood and this environmental allergy response has been put down to tree pollen but I remain unconvinced. Our vet appears to think this response is not his first. We can carry out an allergy test if we wish. I wrote on the application form we have two cats and thus expect to be matched with a dog who is suitable. Our cats are middle aged at 6 and 5yrs. We were told our dog is suitable to live with cats. Unfortunately, he does chase them. Our black cat remains upstairs after being chased. Our black and white cat does on occasion venture downstairs, sometimes our dog chases, sometimes not. When out on walks, he tries to chase squirrels, birds and cats. We are working on managing his prey drive, especially around the need to chase cats and we hope this can be managed for harmony in our home. Looking back, I should have asked questions about their cat test and not taken it at face value. We met some ponies on one of our walks. He was very interested in ponies, I think he wanted to play. He is a calm dog but for welfare reasons, he cannot play with ponies. Our dog is in the midst of adolescence, the pony encounter could have been attributed to this life stage. The prey drive has been ongoing since we got him, he has always had a desire to chase. We hope to manage this as time goes on. Our admin is aware.
One of our children has an allergy to dander which we now realise. Our child has been around other dogs, family members dogs and never reacted. We are putting it down to our dogs double coat (we were not aware of this beforehand). Air purifiers installed. Medication prescribed. All in all, our dog is our dog and we love him. The adolescent phase is what it is and I am positive with reinforcement training, he will reach his adult stage a well rounded dog. Should you be applying for a puppy who is reaching or in the adolescent stage, be mindful of the behaviour changes. They are teenagers after all. Thank you PPTF for our dog. We continue to work with him, for his health and behaviour management. He has settled in well and enjoying walks with his dog friend and playing with our friends puppies. His confidence is growing around water play.

The support from Pawprints2freedom has been excellent from day one. Communication was great and we absolutely adore our girl. When at first we couldn’t understand why she was crying at her toys, they were there to advise and reassure. The fact that she was crying just because she was so happy and overwhelmed to finally have toys in her life, shows how special it is to adopt a dog, especially ones as these. Please use this charity for adoption-they will be with you every step of the way.

This so the most supportive charity I have ever come across. From the first phone call, throughout the process and following adoption. Nothing is too much trouble - the support is second to none x

We took a gamble on adopting a Romanian rescue dog for the first time. We read all the information provided to us from PPTF before making any decisions. There was a lot of material to read and digest but we actually found it incredibly useful as it gave us greater understanding on the big differences between a Romanian rescue compared to a Rescue dog from the UK. We chose our dog & were very pleasantly surprised at how informed we were throughout the whole Happy Bus journey - including provision of photos and videos as well as a specific chat for all adopters of dogs on that same bus. Everything from start of the the process (information, selection of dog) to the end (delivery of our dog to our front door) went smoothly with no issues. Our sweet boy is absolutely adorable gorgeous and funny!!! He was toilet trained within 2 to 3 weeks and we love him so so much!! We are incredibly grateful we chose to adopt from PPTF & have actually been looking with PPTF again to potentially add to our collection! The volunteers were all patient, informative, understanding and helpful throughout every step of the adoption process. We would recommend whole heartedly, adopting from PPTF.

We are absolutely thrilled with our experience with PawPrints To Freedom Dog Rescue! This amazing charity is run entirely by dedicated volunteers who juggle their own families and full-time jobs, yet still put their hearts into finding loving homes for as many dogs as possible. The care and effort they put into their detailed descriptions of each dog really helped us find the perfect match. We are so excited to be adopting our beautiful new furry family member who came over from Romania not long ago! Our incredible volunteer admin we’ve been in touch with has been absolutely amazing every step of the way. We can’t recommend Pawprints To Freedom Dog Rescue highly enough! They are truly saving so many little lives xx

I applied to foster an oldie. The process from start to finish was easy and thorough. I had a call with an admin, who saw me through the process and aftercare is ongoing. I went through the initial contact, to home check meeting and then arranged to visit the Kennels at Nantwich to meet a few dogs before taking one home. I was given reading material and videos to watch to assist with ensuring my experience with the dog would be positive ones. I followed the guidance with reference to leads, walking, meeting new people and dogs which helped immensely. I was given all of the dogs information before going to the kennels so I could make an informed decision on my chosen dog. Once I chose the dog that I would like to foster I then went through match review and picked up the dog the next day to return home. Admin checked in with me the day after, week after and so on. I have now adopted the dog. Hes great, has a few quirks, like stealing slippers, chasing cats, pulls on the way home if something scares him on our walks. But, its all normal stuff that I would expect with a dog that hasn't lived in a home permanently since he was born. I didn't feel pressured into choosing a dog. Its been a pleasure to foster and then adopt. If he develops any problems going forward I know I can return to the rescue for guidance and help. Hes now been with us 5 weeks and we take things at his pace, when hes ready to do it.

i have had nothing but good experiences with pptf. They do get busy and sometimes replies can be slow however these are volunteers and they are extremely helpful.
the adoption and foster process is indepth which again is a good thing as this proves that they wont just rehome to anyone.
in all one of the better rescues i have dealt with over the years,
well done to all the staff for doing such a difficult job.

I’ve followed Pawprints to Freedom for a long time, and I can say without hesitation that they are one of the most dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking rescues out there. Their team goes above and beyond to help the dogs in the most desperate situations, often the ones other rescues won’t or can’t help.

What makes Pawprints so special is their hands-on involvement. They don’t just coordinate from afar. They travel to Romania, witness the heartbreaking conditions firsthand, and physically rescue these dogs themselves. It’s raw, difficult work, but they never shy away. Their mission is selfless, and everything they do is driven by love and an unwavering commitment to the dogs.

Here in the UK, their efforts continue with just as much passion. They work tirelessly to find the right fosters and adopters, and their support throughout the process is exceptional. We have fostered for them personally, and I can honestly say we felt completely supported and guided the whole way through. They were informative, kind, and always just a message away. It felt like they were holding our hand every step of the way.

It breaks my heart to see this rescue subjected to unfair criticism. Sadly, I’ve seen firsthand how some people take on a dog, change their minds, and then fabricate reasons to return the dog, often blaming the rescue rather than taking responsibility. That kind of behaviour is not only unfair, it’s disgusting. But I want to be clear: Pawprints to Freedom are there for their fosters and adopters every step of the way. Their priority is always the dog’s wellbeing, and they do everything they can to make each placement a success.

How they manage to do what they do, day in and day out, is beyond me, but I’m so grateful they do. They are truly worth their weight in gold. If you’re thinking of fostering or adopting, please don’t be swayed by negativity. Trust the work, the passion, and the genuine care that defines Pawprints to Freedom. They are heroes in every sense of the word.

I fostered a dog through Pawprints to Freedom. The experience was deeply distressing — and has raised serious concerns about how this charity is run.

I was told — both by kennel staff and as reflected in the charity’s own agreement — that this would be a two-week foster placement with a view to adopt. I agreed on that basis, with the understanding that if it wasn’t a suitable match, the dog would be moved on after that trial period. But when safety issues arose, I was told I would need to continue housing the dog indefinitely, with no clear timeline or plan in place.

The dog displayed severe behavioural issues that had clearly been ongoing in her previous home — including fear-based aggression, intense resource guarding (of spaces, objects, and people), and multiple attempts to bite. None of this was properly disclosed. Her profile used watered-down language like “vocal” instead of aggressive, prolonged barking and snarling, and “nipping” instead of attempted biting. After connecting with her previous owner — whose review I came across online — I learned there had been multiple attempted attacks, which were entirely omitted from her history. He also told me he had felt bullied into keeping her longer than he felt safe, which exactly mirrored my own experience.

Despite raising repeated concerns, I was told the only alternative was to put her into private boarding at my own expense — £200 per week, with no end date. This was not only unaffordable, but unable to, private boardings wouldn’t take her own due to her behaviour. It became clear that unless I pushed for a final deadline, the charity would continue to leave me in an unsafe and unsupported situation. I eventually gave them a firm date — a week’s notice — letting them know I would be returning her directly to the kennels myself. Only then did they finally act.

One volunteer in particular Ciara was especially unprofessional and harsh throughout. Rather than listening to my concerns or helping find a solution, they pushed their own emotional agenda and made me feel judged and blamed. It became increasingly clear that the wellbeing of both dogs and fosterers takes a backseat to procedure and internal biases within the team.

I also contacted the Pawprints complaints team. Their website says they will respond within three days — in reality, it took ten days, and the response I eventually received took no accountability for what had happened. Now, four weeks on, I’ve received no further reply at all.

Even more concerning is that the dog has since been re-advertised using the same misleading and diluted description — with no mention of the serious behavioural issues or safety concerns I and the previous owner both experienced. This is not only irresponsible, it’s dangerous — setting up other people to walk blindly into a situation they’re not prepared for.

The dog was only with me a short time, but by the end of week one, I knew this was not a suitable or safe long-term match, at week 3 I passed her back over to the kennels. This dog is a sweet loving girl at her core, but sadly will be unable to settle and learn if PPTF are not honest about her needs and behaviour.

While one staff member was kind and helpful, the wider experience showed a deeply concerning pattern of poor communication, lack of responsibility, and misplaced priorities. I found the previous owner’s review by chance, and it helped me understand what I was dealing with — which is why I believe it’s so important to share mine.

Based on my experience, I strongly recommend you steer clear of Pawprints to Freedom.

Adopted an 8 month old puppy, they were so helpful and fast in the adopting process, we were able to get him within a month.

Since we got him he has been a little nervous, Tegan and the team are excellent at supporting all hours of the day no matter how big or small.

As soon as we have room we will be adopting again through PPTF, they are such a great company.

Adopted through PPTF. They were excellent to deal with. All volunteers with very thorough home checks and interviews. You are also assigned your own worker who supports you through the whole process. Great charity 💚

I had the most amazing experience adopting my dog through Paw Prints for Freedom. From the very first interaction, their team was incredibly supportive, compassionate, and professional. They made the adoption process seamless and ensured that my new furry friend was a perfect fit for our family. The care and attention they put into matching pets with their forever homes is truly remarkable.

What stood out to me the most was how dedicated they are to the animals’ well-being and the effort they put into providing support post-adoption. It’s clear that they genuinely care about the dogs and their future families. Adopting through them has been a life-changing experience, and I am forever grateful to Paw Prints for Freedom for bringing this sweet soul into my life.

Highly recommend to anyone looking to adopt a dog and give them a loving home! x

Very good experience I've had with Pawprints, my admin Ash helped me out a ton going through the various steps and in the end I ended up with a new family member and another dog free from the kennels.

No complaints.

We adopted Barry from Pawprints to Freedom and I can’t thank them enough! They listened to all our preferences and they were able to find us a dog that suited us perfectly. The staff are so friendly and a special thanks to Ash who took us through the whole process, and has supported us after the adoption.

Fostering Benny and Baxter, from Paw Prints to Freedom, has been the most magical and rewarding experience I have ever been a part of. Seeing two scared pups arrive and then watching them turn into confident and lovable dogs within a week has been an incredible journey. From the kind and knowledgeable Jane and Anne who did the home check and follow up, to the other admins, and transport teams, pptf have been there every step of the way for me. I would 100% recommend to anyone: please consider opening your home to a Romania rescue dog. Some of them have had such terrible lives but despite that they are the most intelligent, loyal and affectionate dogs I have ever met. My boys toilet trained within 3 days! Pptf chose the most perfect pair for me. The only tough part will be when they get adopted!

We’ve had our rescue dog for 6 weeks now and Pawprints have been amazing the whole way through. There was so much information before we got our dog and they really helped us be as prepared as possible. Our admin contact, Ash, has been so helpful and supportive, we had some issues with our dog and he got the answers from the wider teams within the charity straightaway and we never felt overwhelmed or alone. They’ve helped us with health issues and behaviour training and everyone volunteering is incredible.

The people I spoke to leading upto getting my dog from Romania they were lovely gave loads of information, then when the day came for him to arrive he came right to my door he has settled in so well,he is so loving and gets on with my other 3 dogs you would think he has been for ages not just arrived 3 weeks ago .I can get in touch with my admin Ash to ask any questions and he always messages me back also he messages me to see how cooper is so I know I have got continued support if needed I would definitely use them again and highly recommend.

We adopted a 2nd dog as our first was really nervous and we felt he needed a friend to give him some confidence. My admin Jackie was amazing at giving me advise on how to do the introductions as I've never done that before. She always had time for my questions and when I just needed that little bit of reassurance we were on the right track.
Our first dog was from their Cheshire Kennels and our second direct from Romania, which was a very surreal experience, like waiting for santa to visit.
They insist on creating a safe space for the dog to decompress after their long journey and to take things nice and slow, very good advice.
Compared to other rescues I've adopted through, pawprints2freedom just suited me better, others I've used never provided after care or even seemed to want any updates. I'd definitely recommend them.

Adopted a large 5 year old dog, Dasher from Romania. From start to finish the process was smooth, but thorough. Ash my assigned admin was an absolute pleasure to deal with and was always on hand for advice and support. Dasher arrived promptly after the final checks were completed and is settling in well to home life. Special thanks also go to all the other volunteers who contributed to ensuring that Dasher finally got to his forever home.

We fostered a lovely 5 year old dog, Joshie, from Romania. He was dropped to our front door after a long journey and it was a pleasure to see him settle and grow in confidence. Our admin, Ash, was on hand for advice the whole time and helped to find Joshie an adoptive owner that was suitable for him. Overall, it's been a rewarding experience that I would highly recommend.