All dog-lovers...

[Vallhala]

... please spare a thought tonight for two dogs who died on Saturday night in a Yorkshire dog pound.

They died of cold. :(

Plesae believe me when I tell you how bad so many pounds are and the consequences of abandoning your dog to one.

Please understand me when I get angry and outspoken in defending the dogs I work so hard to save.

And please spread the word that to rescue or foster a dog from a reputable organisation is not to take on an unknown quantity or to take on "used goods" but to give the chance of life and happiness this winter.

[DooinMeCleanin]

'And please spread the word that to rescue or foster a dog from a reputable organisation is not to take on an unknown quantity or to take on "used goods" but to give the chance of life and happiness this winter.' and will probably give you a better chance of having a dog with the temprement you want. All dogs have their own personality. Raising them from very young does not mean you can shape them to be laid back/love kids/hate mud etc.

A good rescue will do their best to find you a dog that will fit your lifestyle.

Plus they are only puppies for such a short time. If you think is a puppy is cute, but you don't think a dog is equally as cute, then you shouldn't bother getting a dog/puppy at all. Puppies are much harder work too.

Vall so about those dogs. I wish I could do more to help, but we have no room for another dog, so bar donating food and blankets to the local greyhound trust (my vets current fave animal charity) I can't do much to help. Other than scowl at friends when they mention buying puppies.

[Bella32]

So incredibly sad, Val

Really gets my goat when people go on about having to get a puppy, as they 'need to know the dog's full history', when in actual fact nothing is more unknown than a new puppy. Just because you witness everything thatyour pup experiences does not mean the pup's temperament will be good. As you know only too well, dogs from reputable rescues will have been fully assessed so the new owner knows exactly what that dog is like. Not helped by the fact that so many rescues won't rehome to families with young dc's, but incredibly frustrating when so many dogs are dying every day, needlessly.

[midori1999]

This has made me so sad and wish we could take another. How anyone can let a dog get so cold it is uncomfortable, let alone dies is beyond me.

I agree that rescue dogs aren't always an unknown quantity and people never seem to realise there are puppies often in rescue anyway. They are far more likely toget the dog they want from a decent rescue than Joe Bloggs down the street who's bred his pet dogs, or the puppy farmer with bargain prices, who, lets face it, are where most people get their puppies from. Even the best breeders can't guarantee what their pups will turn out like, they aren't machines.

[Dexterrocks]

Heartbreaking! Our dog is a rescue dog and he is fantastic.

[wildfig]

my pampered dogs make a Christmas donation to our local rescue. I take a couple of tins of Quality Street up for the volunteers too; must be one of the saddest times to work there.

[Vallhala]

Oooh... lucky volunteers! That's really lovely of you wildfig. :)

Ahem... our "Boss", Dave, who is the much respected and loved owner of the rescue I help at, adores cake. It's his favourite thing. In fact, it's his staple diet.

With a bit of cake on the side.

All cake-ish tokens of gratitude can be sent to Dave at... :o

[booyhoo]

oh val. so sorry to for those poor poor dogs. i hope something has been done at that pound to prevent the other dogs being cold now?

[sb6699]

Oh thats so sad

Recently gave loads of old duvets to the local "Mutts in Distress" as they seem to be warmer than normal beds.

[whiteliesaregoodlies]

Poor poor dogs - how utterly miserable. Where did you hear this story?

[Vallhala]

sb, If you mean the "Mutts In Distress", I know them and can guarantee you that your kindness is much appreciated.

whitelies, this was info received along with an appeal to get a Rott out of the same pound - she was due to be PTS the next day. Appeals of this kind fill my email inbox daily and I (and people like me) endeavour to find rescue places for such dogs.

Thankfully the Rottie had an offer of rescue and pray to god is now safe but so many aren't so lucky.

There are now denials that any dogs died of cold going around rescue circles but I'm afraid I have my cynical hat on. Personal experience of dealing with pounds has taught me that a hell of a lot of things happen that pounds don't want the public to know about and all too often rescue feels it has to lie and/or listen to a pound go into denial without challenging them. Those who do challenge a pound's lies very often find that they are suddenly barred by the pound from entering their premises... and without rescue going in there the dogs within will the pounds will die. So, sometimes rescue decides to keep quiet. I strongly suspect that this is one such situation tbh.

My own view, having in the past been put in that position and fought back, is that by not speaking the truth we are tacitly condoning this behaviour and allowing it to continue for years to come.

It's not just dog pounds either. Certain national rescues are not much better in this respect.

[Alouiseg]

:( so, so sad.

[sb6699]

I thought MID was a network of centres, didnt realise there was only one.

Almost went home with a 1 yo staffie.

It breaks my heart seeing all those dogs in there - they are full to bursting but I need to be sensible, Zac although lovely is still in mental puppy mode and I dont think we could manage another atm.

When he's a bit older I'm definately going to look into the fostering thing we talked about before. I'm at home all day, have a large secure garden and my dog is a friendly chap with others so I think we would be a good bet to help out our local rescue.

[MaybeTomorrow]

Ahhhh that's so sad.

I am sat here staring at our two labradors. One of 4 years and the other is only a year and came to us unexpectedly at Easter.

He is really really hard work (wees everywhere when excited and whines/barks from 5am until we get up) and I have to admit that I have been wondering how much longer I can cope with him (and the other one and an 18 month old baby, aswell as working fulltime!), but it's threads like these that make me realise why I do it.

We will get there and I could never give him up but take heed that even at one year old, they are still really young and really hard work.

BUT mostly, they are so rewarding!

[sb6699]

My lab is 2 on Christmas Day - on a thread on here I was told not to expect him to mature until he's at least 3 or 4!

[Vallhala]

Jesus!

:(

This has just been posted on the "In Memory" section of the forum of the rescue I help out at, It goes to demonstrate what I mean about the lies told by some pounds:

"Staffie Cross
Female
Light brindle with white
Not good with other dogs

Diva found Tipton DY4 on 23.08.10

On 13.11.10 was placed as being rehomed by kennels on 09.09.10,

Diva was never rehomed.

She was PTS along with five others 30-11-10"

And that, together with a picture of Diva, who was young and healthy, is all we have left now. The pound killed her and five other dogs today. :(

I never even knew she existed. I'm just sitting here sobbing, wishing I'd have known, wondering if I could have found her a rescue place, knowing I would have worked through the night to do it, would have brought her back home here if I had to and damn the landlord, feeling so responsible for letting her die although I knew nothing of her plight.

Mankind took a step further away from civilisation and closer to the dark ages the moment that Diva and her fellow pound dogs were killed today.

[kid]

'I never even knew she existed. I'm just sitting here sobbing, wishing I'd have known, wondering if I could have found her a rescue place, knowing I would have worked through the night to do it, would have brought her back home here if I had to and damn the landlord, feeling so responsible for letting her die although I knew nothing of her plight.'

But vall You didn't know and couldn't know about all of the dogs that are in desperate need of a home. The fact that you already do so much to help many needy dogs is wonderful. It would have been great if you could help every dog that needs help, but that is impossible. You should not be feeling responsible for letting her die. thats the last thing you would have done, you know it, I know it and probably all of MN know it too

[Vallhala]

Thank you Kid ((hug)) and bugger MN if it isn't acceptable!

I know, I know... it's just that on days like this I feel like I'm falling into a huge black abyss and just want to give up. I feel guilty too because the ongoing fight to get DD1 into a school is taking up so much time too.

Sometimes I wonder why the fecking hell I ever got involved in rescue, I really do...

Time to pull myself together and treat three far more fortunate boys to some FishForDogs salmon mousse before bed.

Thanks matey, I appreciate your kindness.

[kid]

No problem.
You do a lot of for rescue dogs, but its easy to forget that when you hear of such a sad story like those poor dogs.

I don't have the time to give to helping rescue dogs, so I give money instead. Thats makes me feel like I am doing what little I can to help.

It should be much harder for people to own/breed dogs. People do get dogs and then seem to get bored of them so pass them on or worse, abandon them.

My dear little pup is like a baby to me. He is so lovely but can be hard work. But, I love him so much and would do anything to keep him safe and happy. I am taking him on holiday at the weekend to a beautiful little cottage in the middle of nowhere

[DooinMeCleanin]

Vall your work on here alone has probably saved more dogs than you realise.

Until I started using MN I had no idea what went on in rescues. It was your posts that promted me to read more about it and look out for your posts on the subject.

When we got Scruff dd1 wanted a puppy, had it not been for what I have learnt on MN she probably would have got that puppy and Scruff would have been PTS.

I would never have turned away Poppy, as they said they were going to kill her that very night. But again, if not for what I have learnt here I would have contacted a rescue to come and take her immediatly, rather than insisting she stayed with us until she found her permanent home. DH knew straight away that if she stayed even a few days he would not be able to part with her, and so here she is.

I'm sure she would have been rehomed from rescue as she is just a puppy, but she would have taken up valuable space that another dog needed.

So there is two dogs you knew nothing about, who you did save.

Very sad about Diva and the other dogs though ., but what happened is not your fault. The blame lies only with the eejits who abandoned them

[Ephiny]

So sad to hear about those poor dogs, but Valhalla, it sounds like you work tirelessly to help dogs in such need, and no one person can save them all :(

We donate to rescues as well, I hope that does some good, though I know what they really need is people to offer safe loving forever homes. Already have one rescue dog and it's not really practical to take on another at the moment, though reading stories like this maybe we should try to find a way :(

[minimu1]

OMG this is just horrendous - for lack of care healthy innocent dogs die.

Vall keep at it - you are saving many dogs and each one would be suffering more without you and people like you.

I am glad to say that my work with the rescue centre is growing and we have done behaviour work with some long term rescue dogs who have now really happily been homed with no "baggage" as many people assume.

Everyone do look at rescue dogs before getting a puppy, you can see what you are going to get, you can save a dog from a life of misery of death and you will have a loving fantastic companion Win win.

Proud owner of 5 rescue dogs at the moment and all are fab!!!!

[Ephiny]

Yes definitely consider rescue dogs, many do not have any 'baggage' and are being rehomed simply because of change in the owner's circumstances or something, will be fine after a settling in period to bond with their new family.

Even the ones who have sadly had a difficult start in life due to abuse or neglect, don't write them off as it's amazing how some dogs can still love and trust humans again after all they've been through, and many behavioural problems can be overcome. A good rescue centre should be able to advise on any problems and help you decide if a particular dog is suitable.

[TomYumSoup]

Sitting with my beautiful ex-racer at my feet I too am distraught at the thought of all the greyhounds out there in kennels with no heating, little bedding & inadequate shelter. How can they survive this cold (esp in North East where we live) with no fat or fur to keep them warm. Mine feels the cold sooo much he only goes out with a coat & snood on & hates his feet in the snow. Poor poor dogs.

[30andMerkin]

Val & co, just wanted to say thank you for educating me so much on these threads.

I wanted so very very much to be a responsible dog owner that before we got our puppy a few weeks ago I spent months and months pouring over information on different breeds, how to choose the right breeder, how important it is to see both parents of the puppies etc. I even did some volunteer dog walking at the RSPCA (I know, I know...) to spent time with different dogs. We did consider rescue, but the mainstream charity websites I looked at all seemed to emphasise the fact that virtually none of their dogs could be homed with small children (we're TTCing) and/or needed an experience handler, and this would be our first dog.

Every bit of information seemed to point us towards a puppy - we were even worried about getting him at 10 weeks, rather than the recommended 8, which seems laughable now - so we chose our breed and got a 'designer' crossbreed. And yes, he's beautiful, but I don't love him any more for that. So the next time - and there will definitely be a next time, just as soon as pup has grown up a bit!- I will look very very hard at getting a lovely Springer or Collie cross from one of your recommended rescues. I'm just sorry I didn't have the information or confidence to get a rescue the first time round, but hopefully I'll be a much better dog owner by the time we get to No.2!