Adopting a Jack Russell in Plymouth: rescues, costs and health

The figure under the short answer counts every Jack Russell, Parson Russell or Jack Russell cross that the rescues we list have within about 25 miles of Plymouth right now. Our terrier cross and small dogs pages are worth a look too.

Overbreeding comes first. According to Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK, the Jack Russell is one of the most overbred breeds in the UK, and that is why so many end up abandoned, neglected or surrendered to rescues.

The breed's nature is the other half. PDSA describes Jack Russells as little hunters at heart with a very high prey drive, quick to bark when excited and full of energy despite their size. A family expecting a quiet lapdog can find that hard to live with, so ask the rescue how strongly this particular dog chases and how much noise it makes.

The rescues near Plymouth that publish a fee ask £150 to £325 for an adult, and much of the vet work is already paid for. Every animal at Woodside is vaccinated, neutered, microchipped, flea treated and wormed, and every dog at Animals in Distress (Torbay & Westcountry) is vaccinated, microchipped and neutered, examined by a vet and given a training plan where appropriate. Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK says all its dogs are vet checked, vaccinated, microchipped and neutered.

A puppy from a breeder costs £400 to £3,000 on Blue Cross's figures. Its microchip is part of that price, because UK law says a breeder must chip a puppy by 8 weeks. Neutering, later vaccinations and insurance cost extra.

Jack Russells live long. In a Royal Veterinary College VetCompass study built from UK vet records, the Jack Russell Terrier had a life expectancy at age 0 of 12.72 years, the highest of the 18 breeds in the life tables. A rescue terrier seldom arrives with its parents' test results, so PDSA's list of conditions is worth taking to the rescue:

• Primary lens luxation. A painful eye condition that causes blindness, says PDSA. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders, at a minimum, to DNA test for it before breeding.
• Two kinds of ataxia. Late onset ataxia slowly takes away balance and coordination, and spinocerebellar ataxia makes the spinal cord degenerate; PDSA says neither can be treated, and The Royal Kennel Club lists a DNA test for each.
• Luxating patellas and Legg Perthes disease. Both are on the PDSA list; the first means a kneecap that pops out of place for a while. Ask whether the dog has ever limped or skipped a step.

Walk your boundary before you apply. PDSA says a Jack Russell can squeeze through the smallest gap, so a garden with a loose fence panel or a gap under the gate won't hold one. Woodside asks for fencing of on average 6ft for its dogs. Plan for at least an hour of exercise a day and keep a firm grip on the lead; PDSA also advises against keeping one with smaller pets.

Then think about your hours. PDSA says a Jack Russell should never be left alone for more than four hours, and Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK won't let its dogs be left alone for long periods. On children, PDSA says the breed can be less tolerant of younger or boisterous ones, and Jack Russell Terrier Rescue UK turns down homes with young children altogether.

A rescue doesn't sell its dogs: it vets you, picks a dog to suit your home and charges an adoption fee. Every dog on our Plymouth Jack Russell page is there for adoption, and with an adult the rescue can already tell you how it behaves off the lead and how much it barks.

If you decide to buy, ask to see both parents' results for the eye and ataxia DNA tests that The Royal Kennel Club recommends, look for litters through its Find a puppy service, and see the puppy with its mother, as Blue Cross advises. Report an advert that looks like a scam to Report Fraud, the service that took over from Action Fraud.