My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Anyone rehomed from Battersea?

26 replies

WTFwasthat · 03/10/2012 20:35

How was it and what was teh follow up and aftercare (for want of a better expression?). Thank you

OP posts:
Report
MumOfTheMoos · 03/10/2012 22:06

Yes, twice, and its the best doggie thing I've ever done!

They interview you and find out about your home and situation and they reserve te rights come nd visit your home.

There is a behaviour helpline if you need it and I am still in touch with the vet nurse who was my doggy's foster mum by email.

My first dog was 2-3 years old when I got him and was with e for 9 wonderful years. The latest one I got at 8 weeks and she's three years old.

HTH.

Report
WTFwasthat · 03/10/2012 22:40

Wow. We have had a telephone interview and are going on Sunday to have a look! I'm very very excited. More excited than when we were meant to get a pup from a breeder (it fell through). Now I'm glad it did! X

OP posts:
Report
LadyTurmoil · 03/10/2012 23:16

Are you going to see a specific dog or just generally? If specific, what sort and how old? Good luck! Smile

Report
Floralnomad · 03/10/2012 23:55

We got our boy from Battersea London . He was 16 weeks approx and is absolutely gorgeous. We didn't need a home check and the only contact we have had since is when we went to there annual reunion . Our dog was not out in the kennels as he had only been there for 7 days so we were very lucky with our timing. You do need to bear in mind that many Battersea dogs have or have had kennel cough . Our boy came to us on antiboitics from their vet and then needed more from our vet and has been left with a residual throat problem that means he cannot be walked on a normal collar as the slightest pressure on his throat is a no go. I would def recommend a Battersea dog !

Report
Floralnomad · 04/10/2012 00:37

Have you seen Casper at the old Windsor site ,he looks lovely. Might I just add that Battersea dogs are a bargain , when we got ours it was £95 and he came with antibiotics ,microchip, collar ,lead and a supply of food . We had booked to see a Westie the following day ( DH wanted Westie) and that was £750 . Ours is X breed but looks like a rough coated Patterdale and if you're not fussed about pedigree it's a great thing to take on an unwanted dog.

Report
WTFwasthat · 04/10/2012 07:14

I'd love a retriever type dog but am open minded . Not fussed about pedigree tbh. We are not meeting specific dog. Just going to look I think but I have to take ID. How does it work then? She mentioned a matching meeting on the phone but then just said go and have a look whenever so pera bit confused!

OP posts:
Report
gregssausageroll · 04/10/2012 08:06

Paul ogrady is doing a show on a Monday evening all about battersea.

Report
chipstick10 · 04/10/2012 08:31

yes we rehomed from Battersea Old Windsor. They are wonderful there. The first time we rehomed it was from the dogs trust. Although we got the bestest dog in the world who was with us for 15 years i wasnt that impressed with the staff there.

Report
MumOfTheMoos · 04/10/2012 08:46

So, when I got my first dog from battersea in 1999, we queued up, had an interview and then were let out to see the dogs. It was a Saturday or Sunday morning and it was quite busy. I wanted a border collie and we,d found one we liked but some people further up in the queue (once you've found the dog you want you fill out a slip, take a ticket and wait for your number to come up) had also chosen him. The guy who was dealing with us ten took us around all the other dogs and we finally found ours (a collie crossed with something really hairy) in the hospital kennels as he had kennel cough - he was deaf and had been picked up as a stray. He was the most loyal loving dog ever and great a sign language!

Our latest battersea dog in 2009, I found whilst on the battersea website buying Christmas cards! In fact it was her sister that was on the site, one of an abandoned litter of 7 -left in a box, in a bin, in a park at 2 weeks old. We turned up really early on the next day (by chance a Saturday) and had our interview. She was being fostered so wasn't in as her foster mum was poorly, so we put her on 'hold' and went and picked up the next week. We did technically have an introduction meeting but my as my dh says, it was love at first sight and the only way she was leaving was with me. If they know you're going to give a dog a good home the peeps at battersea really go out of their way to make sure you get one.

Our doggie is a lab staffie something else cross and is a delight. Battersea is full of young staffies needing a home. They are the most gorgeous, affectionate, playful dogs who were bred to be good with children ( they were bred, back in the day, in small houses with loads of kids so had to be good with them).

Report
Floralnomad · 04/10/2012 11:25

It may be a good idea to look on the website first , often the dogs that are deemed more suitable for out of town homes will be at Old Windsor or BrandsHatch as it is too stressful for them at the London site. Also if there is nothing that suits you when you look around do ask if they have anything else as that's how we got ours as he wasn't in the kennels , they also offered us a staffy puppy that was not out for public view.

Report
WTFwasthat · 04/10/2012 22:22

Thankyou. We are very excited. Cannot wait until Sunday.

OP posts:
Report
maturenanny · 05/10/2012 08:30

We have a fab greyhound we got from Old Windsor, he is currently snoozing away on his three duvets!
Best decision we made, they interviewed us to find out our lifestyle and working pattern, then said to look at the dogs and let us know which ones you fancy.
A week later we had a home visit and two weeks after that he came home.
I second the good value, we paid the same as Flora.
I would love another dog and will defo go there when we feel ready.
X

Report
WTFwasthat · 06/10/2012 21:56

we're going tomorrow! very excited! if we met a dog we loved tomorrownwould we bring it home tomorrownor would there be more checks etc.

OP posts:
Report
Floralnomad · 06/10/2012 22:55

If they decide you don't need a home check before you take the dog then in my experience there is no follow up checks, there wasn't for us . If you don't mind me asking why did you decide not to go down the pedigree route after all? Good luck for tomorrow I hope you have the same success with Battersea that we did ,.dont forget to ask if they have anything else not on display if you don't see anything suitable in the kennels.

Report
morethanyoubargainfor · 07/10/2012 18:12

How did it go?

Report
WTFwasthat · 08/10/2012 13:29

No joy. Only greyhounds or SBTs. Plus a couple of 5 yr old JRTs. There was only one match for us which was a 3 - 4 yo SBT

OP posts:
Report
maturenanny · 08/10/2012 16:32

Greyhounds make the best family pets ever!! X sorry it didn't go to plan, do keep an eye on the website though now your registered.
As its quite local to us we went over a few weeks x

Report
TantrumsAndBalloons · 08/10/2012 16:38

Ah staffys are lovely :(

There's so many of them in rescue now.

Report
TantrumsAndBalloons · 08/10/2012 16:39

And lovely family pets as well.

Are you not keen on greyhounds or staffys?

Report
chipstick10 · 08/10/2012 16:41

WTF Would you not consider Greyhounds or a staffy?

Report
TantrumsAndBalloons · 08/10/2012 17:15

Oh please rescue a staffy, they are amazing Grin

No I'm joking, you have to get what dog you love. But don't rule out a staffy.

Report
WTFwasthat · 08/10/2012 21:59

i would not rule out any breed but only one there was a 'match' for us anyway and she was not appealing to me. I really want a retriever breed or cross. Or poss a spaniel cross. It is quite difficult to get a rescue dog. it makes me want to revert to plan A and buy a pup from a breeder. I've applied forba few now with nonsuccess

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

MagratGarlik · 08/10/2012 23:59

Please don't forget though that Battersea is a pound, not a no-kill rescue. Whilst they have very good behavioural assessment, it is not the same as adopting a dog from a no kill rescue. If there would be problems in 6 months, a year, 10 years, you could not guarantee to return the dog to them and the dog actually survive.

Report
WTFwasthat · 09/10/2012 18:56

I didn't realise that! I'm registered with two rescues too. They specialise in labs and lab crosses. Fingers crossed

OP posts:
Report
GoSuckALemon · 22/10/2012 20:49

These people did and what a fantastic story and ambassador for Battersea.

//www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4602955/boy-scared-of-going-outside-cured-three-legged-dog.html

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.