To be sad that more people don't consider rescue dogs?

[Keletubbie]

Overly emotional, flicking through Facebook, and several local shelters are at capacity and appealing for homes for their residents. Rows and rows of sad looking middle aged dogs. Breaks my heart.

We're currently at canine capacity so none of them can come here (probably ) but I can't fathom why nobody wants them... 😢

[aprilanne]

unfortunately its because puppys are cute and folk dont know the temprement of rescue dogs ..same with cats i rescued a stray and he is adorable not a cat person until he turned up at my door well back garden .

[SuburbanRhonda]

And because there are still plenty of people out there who are happy to prop up the dog breeding trade because they want a certain "look" for their dog.

Not sure I agree about the not knowing the temperament thing. Doesn't stop people having children

[SirChenjin]

I spent years looking for a dog from a rescue centre but unfortunately having a young child in the house and WOHM (at that point was p/t but the dog would have been left for a few hours between me leaving the house and the teens getting home) meant that I couldn't find one - each dog comes with a set of criteria for their new home (rightly so) and we didn't fit any of them. I suspect that's the case for many sadly.

[StoorieHoose]

I think people don't to run the risk of taking on a dog that may have issues. And I say that with my second rescue collie at my feet - my first collie was about 2 when we took her on and she was a delight so easy to look after and lived til she was 14. The wild boy I have at the moment is apparently 10 years old but 3 vets I've seen have said that he is possibly younger (he is certainly wilder than my old dog when she was ten). He is a big scaredy cat who shakes and shivers at the slightest thing but likes the sound of his own voice too much so barks at the smallest noise.

When you get a pup you are able to shape them but it is much harder with a middle aged dog when you don't know their history

[Wolfiefan]

I have been looking for a dog for over a year.
I have two children. Youngest is 6. So that rules out quite a few dogs.
I have two cats. That rules out loads of dogs.
I don't want a high energy breed like a collie. First time owner.
I don't want a staffy. Sorry but I don't.
Oh and I don't have a dog already. So that rules out even more.
I haven't found a dog yet.
Plus many people are worried about taking on a dog that comes with baggage. This may be a misconception but if a dog ends up in rescue it may not have had the best start with regards to training etc.

[Shakirasma]

Well they are mostly off limits to families with young children wanting a dog, either because the dogs may not be suitable due to past trauma or neglect, or because many rescue centres point blank refuse to rehome to young families.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

There are loads of puppies in rescue. I am always trying to ask people on here to consider it. It seems as if every thread when people ask about which breed to get, someone comes on and suggests a cockerpoo. I have nothing against them at all but it's the latest trend and there are so many lovely dogs in rescue.

[lilypadpod]

Many people don't want to risk taking on a dog with an unknown background. You don't know their triggers or whether they will react aggressively due to past mistreatment.

I would rather get a puppy and raise/train him myself.

[megletthesecond]

Don't rescue homes place quite strict conditions on where a rescue dog can go though? Ie; no kids, no other pets etc?

I've been browsing rescue guinea pig sites and even they've got ridiculous conditions these days (they prefer no ramps even though none of my previous piggies had a problem with them).

I understand they must have pets going to good home but the criteria seems like it eliminates lots of potential owners.

[Wolfiefan]

Lovely dogs. But collies and spaniels. Not suitable for every dog owner I'm afraid.

[Birdsgottafly]

Most people getting puppies, don't really want to be a responsible dog owner, that's why the shelters are full.

I'm not unsympathetic towards genuine rehomers, I'm having to rehome my dog because of illness, I've found a good life long home for her, or I would have kept her.

The person whose taking mine looked on German Shepherd Rescue, mine is a GS, but she has another dog and a cat and there were none suitable.

That's another bugbare of mine, dogs that aren't made sociable, especially big breeds.

It makes them harder to rehome.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=544558285706898&id=100004581947994

Does this work? Look at these cuties, from Cyprus but you are still taking a dog out of a miserable situation. Ireland has a huge problem too and there are English based rescues who will bring them over and offer lifetime support plus take the dog back if you don't feel it's right for you.

[neonrainbow]

That cocker spaniel came from a breeder who couldn't be arsed to sort its hernia! Im shocked that a rescue would even look twice at that!!

[Keletubbie]

I've only ever had one dog. She is a middle aged rescue staffy. And she is possibly the best dog ever. Adopted when DD was 5. Full of love, rarely barks or chews, just wants to cuddle.

I guess I feel that dogs end up in rescue for lots of reasons, not necessarily because they have problems.

[IAmTheWhoreOfBabylon]

All my dogs have been rescues up until this one
I have a poodle now due to dc allergies
I did look for a poodle rescue but all the dogs homes near us were full of staffies or enormous dogs

[TimeToMuskUp]

We have a rescue and although she's a great girl and has become an important part of our family, we weren't given a full disclosure of her behaviour til she'd moved in and bitten our then 5 year old. Four and a half years on she's impeccably behaved and well-trained but it's taken time, effort and money to get her to trust and obey us. And I still wouldn't leave her alone with strangers children because her history means she's more of a risk. I imagine families with children hear 'rescue' and immediately think 'danger to children' (which I appreciate isn't always the case; dogs owned from puppyhood are just as liable to bite if incorrectly raised).

I'd have another rescue because the DCs are 5 and 10 now, and are past the toddler-meddling stage. But I'd never suggest a rescue dog for families with small children.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

It was just an example wolfiefan as most people say that you can't get puppies from a rescue. Loads of other types on the website

[Birdsgottafly]

I agree, a tough criteria is needed for Collies and Spaniels, or they end up back in the shelters and are a real problem to rehome.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

neon what do you think that the rescue should have done? Turn it away?

[jusdepamplemousse]

YANBU but I think shelters need to do much more to reach out to potential homes and in some cases their staff need to be a bit less hysterical about the type of homes required. We have a rescue dog from a brilliant, realistic and supportive shelter but dealt with one member of staff at another shelter who was frankly mad with power and lacking in common sense. He had been requested to do a home check by the shelter we got DDog from as he lived v close to us. He phoned me at 4.30 one day out of blue and told me he was at the house, where was I, we weren't fit to have a dog, didn't I know dogs needed full time care and supervision, etc etc. We had been full and frank with original shelter that we both worked. He would not listen. Spoke to original shelter again and they confirmed we were suitable on further home check - DDog is a sweet, lazy, shy boy who is much better off in a warm home with doggy door and lots of love and attention and a walk in the evening than he was in a shelter, and they could appreciate this. The other guy made me feel like Cruella de Vil!

Not to say I don't agree but I can also see that it isn't always going to be a matter of 'selfish people just wanting puppies' IYSWIM. And I do think it's fine if folk want puppies too - just do think it's sad more don't consider the poor craithurs already in need of a home.

Those who get pups without thought and land them in shelters - often poorly or with poor socialisation or both - should be very heavily fined to be frank.

[Wolfiefan]

I know. I have spent literally hours on there! Many are ex breeders which come with huge issues. Lots are bichon type dogs.
I have searched RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Many Tears, Blue Cross and local rescues.

[carlajean]

Both of our beloved dogs were from rescues, with never a problem between them. In fact, we couldn't understand why they'd ended up in a rescue in the first place. I wouldn't hesitate in going down that route again.

[EssentialHummus]

I'd love a rescue dog. We always had expensive, poorly, pedigree boxers when I was growing up and I vowed to always take in rescues only. But I worry that we wouldn't be accepted by a shelter / would have to jump through tons of hoops to demonstrate suitability. I also would prefer a Staff / Rottweiler type, DP is not used to dogs and wants something "fluffy". The closest thing we can agree on is a sighthound, and given that we don't have a background with them I worry we wouldn't be considered. I now wfh, so hopefully we're better candidates than we were.

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

Yes many are ex breeders but there are lots of puppies too who are a blank canvas. This one is a month old. Independent rescues are often very flexible about re homing with children. Black retriever cross is a good one and re home some lovely family dogs.

[TimeToMuskUp]

Also, Wolfie is totally right; a rescue collie or spaniel wouldn't be suitable for every home at all. Ours is a spaniel and she's as mad as the day is long and needs a large amount of exercise and stimulation. Our neighbours have a collie; both work full time and that dog is a lunatic. She needs constant stimulation because she's genetically bred to be a working farm-dog. I wouldn't consider one unless I worked from home and had many many hours to devote to it.

As it is our spaniel goes out first thing when I get up, we have a dog walker come in every lunchtime Mon-Fri for an hours walk and DH walks her before bedtime each evening. Without the dog walker to break up her day I can imagine she'd be an utter lunatic too. Some families don't have the resources to provide what a dog needs. Better to be honest about that before having a dog than to have to rehome a dog which doesn't fit in with your family.