For being fed up that some charities make it it impossible to adopt despite insisting that they are ‘inundated’ with dogs?

We were trying to find a rescue for 2 years before we ended up getting a puppy instead. Two adults working from home full time, one self employed so flexible hours, no children, no other pets, large enclosed garden. Not having owned a dog as adults seemed to be the sticking point for us.

The frustrating part is they always seem to be looking for new homes for dogs that have already been rehomed, or people who changed their mind at the last minute etc. so it's not like their vetting process seems to be working either.

I do wonder if it depends very much on the rescue centre and the people who run them.

We wanted a rescue dog. We've spent a fortune on pedigree breeds in the past and felt it was time to find a rescue.

Purely by chance, we found a place that rehomes ex-racing greyhounds. They were reasonable, lovely and very knowledgeable. Yes, they did checks on us but they were realistic and genuinely seemed to want the dogs to go to a good home.

We have DC, both work (I'm PT), live in a city but the main pre-requisite seemed to be did we have a lovely comfy sofa and did we 'fit' with our boy when we met him.

He's the love of my life and spends much of the day snoozing on a very lovely comfy sofa.

So they are out there. PM me if you want any further info and good luck!

IMO the people who work for the cat rescues are all animal hoarders who take on the cats themselves.

Most of the cat charities I’ve approached haven’t even responded, but when I approached Celia Hammond the woman who came to do a home check told me it would be difficult as I have a disability, even though she fully acknowledged that I was an experienced cat owner We got talking and it transpired that she herself has 19 cats and was planning to get more. And they were all indoor cats.

Now maybe I’m as judgemental as she is, but IMO a home with 19 cats isn’t a suitable home for more,you can’t possibly give them decent attention, and it’s proven that cats which live in large numbers in close proximity suffer from major stress.

I also approached a different charity a few years ago and I mentioned casually that I’d always wanted a Siamese (I wasn’t looking for one there, I was looking for a moggy,) and the woman I spoke to said “oh, if we get Siamese in they’re not actually put up for adoption because <insert colleague’s name> takes them.

Just to add though, while it can be frustrating navigating the different rescues, it’s so worthwhile because good ones are great.

We adopted a dog earlier this year. From registering to getting her was under two weeks and that included a very practical and sensible home inspection. They really worked with us to match us with a dog where everyone’s needs would be met.

She’s just the best little dog ever and has slotted right in. She really did deserve to find a loving family and was 100% worth jumping through a few additional hoops for.

I've adopted almost 10 cats in my lifetime with no issues. Then I moved to another area of the UK and experienced exactly what you describe - most rescues completely ignored me (despite pleading for homes on Facebook) and others said no for nonsensical reasons. I tried for six months, contacting every rescue within 50 miles. Then for the first time in my life I bought a kitten from a breeder, and I still feel terrible even though I love him to death.

I really don't understand what the game plan is. I've volunteered in a couple of animal rescues and I know the people who staff them tend to be, erm, a little strange, but usually they do at least want to rehome the animals!

Op they may have rethought it looking at the other dog breeds you had at the time? I used to be like you, thinking the rescues etc were a bit batshit and picky etc, but everyone I know who tried an was refused a dog it turns out there was a reason and I know a few who have sent dogs back as it turns out the issues the rescues had with them were valid (but the people argued them out of it). We tried to get a rescue years ago and they turned us down because of children, then because we had neighbours that had tons of cats (they weaseled this out of us in conversations lol!) Now, since having seen the particular breeds we were trying to adopt in action with children and the other with cats, I realise we were idiots and the things we said we'd do weren't feasible long term. They know what they're doing and I think you'll be grateful in the future. Keep going with what you have and well done

I saw a recent advert on a land wanted Facebook group for a Dog rescue wanting a farmhouse to rent with at least 5 acres and preferably good outbuildings or they would build some. I presume the funds raised pay for rent, utilities etc so if the kennels aren’t full of dogs the rent for a large rural property can’t be justified.
I thibk many are just dog collectors who think no one can look after them as well as they can or it’s an easy life mainly living off the fund raising

A reactive dog of that size needs to be put to sleep.

Yours is not a unique experience op. A lot of dog rescues are tiny and run by volunteers who seem to be universally disorganised. The fees they want are huge and uk ones just won’t rehome to houses with children. It cuts out so many potentially suitable homes. I have applied to a breed rescue, I am home all day and fulfill all criteria but two months later still being ignored whilst the begging posts on Facebook are still ongoing. I give up. I think that overseas rescues will just come in and fill the gap to be honest. I also worry about some of the rescues when they seem to have 12 dogs each, I think many of them are animal hoarders and it is based on their own emotional needs rather than genuine rehoming.

Cats protection refused us an adoption because we live on a main road.

Front door to kerb is around 18 metres. They were worried the cats would run out the door and into the road

Ridiculous

Will say we got our own old dog from a small shelter who take a very sensible view that a home with minor imperfections is better than a life of boredom and monotony in a shelter. Something that ought to be fairly obvious!

Unfortunately a lot of people who work for these charities seem to lack the ability to wield a small amount of power sensibly and have utterly preposterous views on what is necessary for an animal to have a decent life. It’s utterly bananas and frankly there needs to be some kind of overseeing ombudsman but obviously that will never happen and even if it did it would probably end up being staffed by people just as batshit!

People have such negative views on crates, my mums dog is also crated sometimes, by her own choice she will go in and that’s her quiet hiding space when she wants some time alone. Rescues definetly put all animals in the same “box” needs and personality wise. One dog will hate a crate and it would be a little mean but another will love their crate and it’s in their best interest to have access to one!

The thing is, they all have strict criteria, yet very often are sharing that a dog has been returned as a failed adoption. So there are more important things than just a set of criteria. I cannot rescue a Lurcher despite the fact there are absolutely loads of them in rescue, they’re not a popular adoption choice, and they’re quite tricky dogs - I am an experienced and current owner but because I live near a main road they won’t even entertain it. Although that main road is adjacent to a major wildlife site in our area! it’s such a shame, I’d much prefer to rescue in principle but it’s almost impossible.

Our local rescue won't allow you to have a dog if you will be using a crate so we got a puppy who is now 5. My (very small) dog sleeps very happily in a (large) crate in our bedroom with a very comfortable bed inside it. I can then be certain that he is safe and won't be stepped on if someone goes to the toilet in the night. He is with us, and if he makes any sound at all, we get him straight out. No cruelty, he is adored. Yet this makes us unsuitable in the eyes of our local rescue.

Is it expensive to adopt from abroad?

Same with rabbit rescues. I have had rabbits for years but they are so strict about you not having cats and using their bonding services (£200) and adoption fees (£70) and needing at least 6sq m locked away all the time from cats… etc…

then they are refusing to take new rabbits because they are full.

don’t even get me started on the appeals because a rabbit called Donald needs £5,000 of dental work

maybe I’m evil

I’ve heard of two people refused dogs and another refused cats. All had experience with their respective request.

I think YANBU. It’s almost impossible now, I haven’t tried to adopt a dog as my garden isn’t fenced but I remember as a child we rescued a rhodesian ridgeback, I was secondary age and my brother primary school age, both adults in the household worked, he was the most amazing dog, we paid £100 for him. He was so loved and I remember my stepdad picking him up the same day we went to view him. It all felt very easy and we were rightly trusted. I now as an adult have been trying to adopt an indoor cat for almost a year, everytime met with a no with no reason. I picked up a three legged one from a family today who have had a change of circumstances. I have also given up with rescues, they seem to have too many animals with such different needs but don’t have the effort to match the animals with suitable families. It’s a “one fits all” type questionnaire, which doesn’t suit all animal personality types!

What?! That is ridiculous

Dh and I went to one rehoming place years ago.

We fell for a lovely dog and enquires at the desk.

Without knowing anything about us they told us we couldn’t rehome any dog as we lived on a main road

We didn’t live on a main road

They then said that we couldn’t rehome because of having children ..... we didnt
because we lived in a flat.... we didnt
because we both worked f/t..... I was home all day.
We didn’t have a garden...we did.

We got the message loud and clear. Dh and I weren’t people they wanted on their charity

Person who we spoke to hit the headlines and not in a good way some months later

We got our beautiful girl who we had for 14.5 years the following week when we visited another rehoming charity who weren’t as snooty and really wanted to get the dogs into loving homes.

We gave up in the end. Three adult household, 1 wfh permanently, fully enclosed garden, lots of green open areas for walks, previously rescued two dogs with no issues (when our children were young), no financial worries so vet's bill not a problem.

Turned down repeatedly. Can only imagine it was because we have a mature 12 year old, with two dogs of their own, visit us once a week.

So at least one dog was denied an active, loving home, for no apparent reason.

This is why we ended up getting a puppy. We had no luck whatsoever with rescues despite being experienced dog owners, i wfh all day, have a teenage dd and a dh, live rurally with a large enclosed garden, I even walk for a local dog charity. We gave up in the end and got a puppy.

Paws2Rescue (on Facebook) do neutering in Romania. We adopted our beautiful little dog through them after being turned down for being too old here. We all have the best possible life together.
To be on the safe side I have made family arrangements so if anything happens my daughter will take her.
I can thoroughly recommend this charity. They are very caring about their dogs but not ridiculous. Ricky Gervais is one of their patrons.