Adopting a Labrador in Manchester: rescues, costs and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows the Labradors and Labrador crosses listed with us in Manchester and within about 25 miles, and each profile links to the rescue that has the dog. Our guide to Manchester dog rescues compares every rescue near the city.

Often because an owner's circumstances change: Labrador Rescue (North West Area) names redundancy, health, divorce and financial reasons. Its homepage says "Circumstances and lifestyles change and what we thought was forever sometimes isn't", and that it was set up to help Labradors that had become unwanted and homeless through no fault of their own. Labrador UK Action Group says it rescues and rehomes unwanted, ill-treated or abandoned Labradors, and its adoption page says most need medical attention of one kind or another when they arrive.

Most dog rescues near Manchester that publish a fee ask £160 to £250 for an adult dog, from Windyway Animal Rescue's £160 upwards, and Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary £300 for a puppy. The fee pays for work already done: Pennine Pen Animal Rescue's £250 includes neutering, the first two vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and microchipping, and Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary says it can sometimes offer a reduced rate for a senior dog.

Buying a puppy costs £400 to £3,000, says Blue Cross, before food, insurance and vet bills. Running costs are the same either way: PDSA puts the set-up cost of a large dog at £560 and the monthly cost at £116 or more.

What the Royal Veterinary College called the largest UK study of the breed, a VetCompass study of 33,320 Labradors seen by vets in 2013, found ear infections were the most common disorder, affecting 10.4 per cent, with 8.8 per cent overweight and 5.5 per cent affected by osteoarthritis. A second VetCompass study found Labradors had 2.8 times the risk of arthritis of other dogs and 1.6 times the risk of obesity. So ask the rescue:

• Hips, elbows and eyes. PDSA lists hip and elbow dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy among the breed's potential problems, and says screening programmes are available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and The Royal Kennel Club, such as the BVA hip scheme. The Royal Kennel Club also recommends breeders DNA test for conditions including exercise induced collapse.
• Weight. PDSA lists Labradors as prone to obesity, and Labrador Rescue (North West Area) calls them greedy dogs that can easily become overweight. Ask what the dog weighs now.
• Ears. Ask whether the dog has had ear infections, the commonest disorder VetCompass found.

Labradors need a lot of exercise. The Royal Kennel Club lists more than two hours a day, and Labrador Rescue (North West Area) says an adult needs the equivalent of an hour's free running or lead walking every day, while puppies and dogs under a year must not be over-exercised because of their joints. Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary won't rehome without a secure garden or yard, Pennine Pen Animal Rescue asks for evidence that any garden is secure, and Bleakholt also won't rehome a young dog where it would be left alone for over four hours, or five and a half hours for a dog aged four or more, so say honestly how the dog's day would work.

Rescue Labradors are adopted, not sold. You apply for a dog, the rescue picks the home that suits it best, and you pay its adoption fee. Puppies do come through rescue, but you can't plan on one, so be open to an adult.

If you decide to buy, Labrador Rescue (North West Area) advises buying only a puppy whose parents both have a current eye certificate and have had their hips X-rayed and scored. The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service, and Dogs Trust's breed guides suggest asking your vet about a pre-purchase consultation. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.