Rescue dogs

[ld7675]

We lost our collie cross a few weeks ago and are looking for another dog now. We're looking on the rescue sites at the moment and it seems to be soooo hard to find a suitable dog, despite there being hundreds needing homes! We've applied for some just now but I really don't like the bidding for a dog approach with potentially hundreds of other applicants all applying based on just a photo of a dog, would much rather be checked and registered with an organisation and then be able to view dogs with the family to see which ones we take to the best.

Has anyone else felt like this about rescue dogs? Any tips at all? Or organisations that are really good to work with? Don't really want to have to search for breeders etc as it feels morally wrong but the whole rescue thing is more tricky than I anticipated. Our last dog was from a local farm and it was so easy in comparison.

[CMOTDibbler]

What sort of dog are you looking for? Both of mine came from EGLR which was a very painless process

[ld7675]

We're looking for a collie cross, ideally under 1 year old. My husband works outside all day so is intending to have the dog go with him to work (our old dog did this every day), so needs to be reliable off the lead, and easy to train. We loved the intelligence of the collie breed. Are ESG a national organisation?

[ld7675]

d'uh my big fingers - I meant EGLR!!

[TrionicLettuce]

Does it have to be a cross or would you be happy with a full border collie? There are a number of BC specific rescues which will home (or consider homing) nationally.

If a collie lurcher would be something you'd consider then there are quite a few lurcher rescues which get them in pretty regularly and will rehome all over the country.

[Brownfiesta]

I would recommend contacting small, local rescues.

I visited a local rescue - we discussed our situation and what we wanted from a dog. The manager rang a few weeks later and said she thought she had the perfect dog - we visited with Ddog1 and she was ideal. I think the manager may have rung around other small rescues because Ddog2 was originally found wandering and starving in a different county.

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

m.facebook.com/Border-Collies-Needing-Homes-across-the-UK-165262670199808/

[Newes]

My local rescue (not Collies, another breed) do the checks and meet you beforehand, then you are welcome to make enquiries about any dog that becomes available.
I wouldn't have thought it was good for the dogs to have to wait for checks to be sifted through from so many interested people.

[StuffandBother]

We're on exactly the same position, I think we're going to end up buying a bloody puppy at this rate. Conversely our local rescue has some 'smooth collies' come in this week, PM me if you're near Manchester and I'll let you know where they are

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

I got my girl from a local rescue, I made an appointment to meet her, then another with the family, they then came out the next week to do the home check, we'd already filled all the paperwork out. As soon as we'd had the home check, we could arrange to pick her up.

[ld7675]

Thanks StuffandBother, we're in West Sussex, shame a bit far to travel for us I'm afraid x

[ld7675]

Newes I agree, it seems as if you're bidding blind. We've applied for a local organisation which fosters rather than keeps the dogs in kennels, they ask you to list 3 which is weird as you have no idea of the dogs' temperament which is more important than how they photograph surely? We've had a fairly prompt email which says they're going to homecheck us, hopefully this will get us "in" with them but I'm not comfortable to agreeing to take a dog that hasn't me us or more importantly the children. Watch this space I think, will also follow some of the links suggested by the lovely posters here. Isn't mumsnet fab?!?!

[IfTheCapFitsWearIt]

Oh I don't like the sound of that, so you can't meet the Dog before you decide?

[Newes]

It is! 😊
Hope your search is successful.

[Newes]

And no, you absolutely can't take a dog you haven't met. Preferably more than once. What sort of amateurs are they?

[BagelGoesWalking]

Have a look at:
Silver Fox Dog Rescue
Hope Rescue
Four Paws Rescue
Balkan Underdogs
Zante Strays
Heathlands Animal Sanctuary
Pro Dogs Direct
Black Retriever X

Join FB groups run by any relevant rescues, much more up to date than websites, you get a feel for the rescue. They should homecheck, discuss the dog with you, offer backup to rehome the dog if circumstances drastically change for you, offer help with behaviourists and have lots of activity on their FB group from people who have adopted from them.

[BagelGoesWalking]

Sorry, meant to add Holbrook Animal Rescue who are in Sussex.

[minsmum]

We have a wonderful rescue called Glendee, they have a Facebook page. The person who runs it is married to a dog trainer. They spend a lot of time with the dogs preparing them for their future homes. I would highly recommend them

[traviata]

When we were looking for a rescue dog, we went to Raystede rescue kennels. They do an interview, then you say whether you like the look of any dogs that they have, and then they try you out together. I really liked the Raystede staff. They were relaxed and friendly, and wanted things to work out. They advised us as inexperienced dog-owners not to take on a lovely young dog with behaviour problems. They were not uptight and sniffy like staff in other rescue kennels.

In the end we got a gorgeous dog from Sussex Pet Rescue, who use a 'foster first' approach.

I suppose the problem is that these small charities can't spare the resources to check out every potential adopter, and then just 'keep you in mind' . Surely they do not expect you to commit to taking a dog just from the photo? I think they just have to start the process somewhere, and need to hear which dog has caught your eye in order to evaluate your family against what that dog needs.

[traviata]

op, collie cross at Raystede

[Scuttlebutter]

There are several collie specialist rescues, especially as collies are dogs who often require experienced homes or homes who are willing to put in a bit of work - collies are sensitive and intelligent and need homes that understand and can work with them to keep them mentally occupied.

Try Wiccaways who specialise in BC. Collies regularly come up in all breed rescues - for instance, 12 month old Hoover is lovely and is with Paws Rescue

it's worth narrowing your search to a few specialist rescues, getting on the phone to them, sorting out a homecheck if possible (lots of rescues allow you to do this before matching with a specific dog) and showing you are serious about a dog. Bluntly, rescues simply don't have the time or the manpower (usually it's womanpower actually) to go chasing you if you've previously indicated an interest in a particular type of dog. FB pages are very useful to follow and Hoover for instance featured earlier has his own thread on a forum with pics and updates from his foster home.

Good luck with your search.

[samsam123]

we got our rescue from Cyprus - ok i know there are hundreds already in this country needing a home but i fell for him and he is perfect -cyprus dog rescue

[TrionicLettuce]

There's a Dogs Trust centre in West Sussex that might be worth a look, they've certainly got several BC type dogs in at the moment. The dogs will be in the centre rather than foster homes but DT are generally very good at matching up potential owners with dogs and do offer backup post adoption.

[ld7675]

We're being homechecked tomorrow. I've read the small print now which isn't very clear but it looks like you then arrange a visit to see how you and the dog get on. Have lots of questions to ask tomorrow anyway. Hopefully we'll be a bit clearer then. They have dogs in foster care rather than kennels so I suppose they assess whether you're suitable as browsing isn't possible. I've had a look at raystede and dogs trust and will contact them if it's a no go with this charity. I had no idea how many dog sanctuaries even existed before now it's awful how many rejected dogs there are out there.

[slinkysaluki]

Have a look at Dogs blog, you can put in the breed you are interested in and it brings up all rescue dogs for that breed with the rescues details. Hope you find a new companion, sorry for your loss

[slinkysaluki]

I have a collie lurcher shes fantastic. Also have an elderly greyhound. Would recommend rescues that foster as the dogs temperament etc can be assessed by the fosterer as the dog is in their home