Dogs rescue, a saga.

[Perditapongo]

Trying to re-home a dog, not easy is it?
Please allow me to moan a little, I'm getting rather fed up and trying not to call the whole thing off.

We've found a wonderful older dog, the rescue says we're the right fit for her. The dog's needs are not unusual for a rescue but still quite specific and her being the breed she is I don't think the rescue is drowning in options. This dog is not and will never be happy living in kennels.
For a few weeks now we have diligently gone through the process with the rescue, so far so normal, but still disclosing a lot of personal information that I wouldn't normally be happy to have randoms acquire. We've travelled the length of the country to meet the dog and introduce her to our terrier, everything went perfectly.
After the visit I was told it was just a matter of finishing the paperwork (on their side, since we've already provided them with everything they asked for) and organising the hand over.
I understand that this rescue is probably (not sure) entirely staffed by volunteers, they have a lot on their plates, have to be cautious and also a life outside the rescue.
But.
They are now starting to be quite dismissive to my seeking information about the dog whilst in a conversation about her, missing phone appointments set by them and being rude. I've been diligent and patient but I'm not sure this should include being treated like this. Starting to wonder if some people are getting a little power crazed, nosying around your life and circumstances and having the ultimate decision? I am fuming this morning after a very rude, headmistressy text.
I don't really want to go there but I could pick up the phone and get a healthy puppy from a great breeder's next litter, no problem.That's it really, we already love this dog, so feeling quite down. Meanwhile she's still in kennels and miserable.
I would really like to hear your experiences with rescues or working with a rescue?

I do think rescues are tricky - we were immediately rejected and got a puppy instead. Shame as we wanted to get a rescue.

I understand it’s frustrating but I would just think of the poor dog here. If you feel you have enough info and the meeting went well can you just push on with the handover so you don’t have to deal with them anymore? It would be a shame that the dog lost out on you as a family due to rude rescue staff. I’d just focus on the dog and getting it out of the kennels.

I have no experience, but can understand your frustration. Sometimes rescue type personalities are tied up in control and hoarder issues. No one is good enough 😔 Hope it's resolved soon and you get your wee dog x

There are some rescues that are like this, lots of rescues, and there are others who focus on getting their dogs a home. I'd be tempted to look elsewhere but that wouldn't help the poor dog. I'd be worrying they are working up to changing their minds about you getting the dog anyway. I how it works out for you and for the dog.

@Delatron @Happylittlethoughts Thank you for reading and replying! Yep thinking of her is all that keeps me walking away right now.

Sometimes rescue type personalities are tied up in control and hoarder issues.
I would be concerned that was the case here as they are dismissive about your attempts to ask about the dog.
A good rescue would be keen to make sure the dog is a good fit for your family.

We got our rescue dog from Dogs Trust. Took about 2 weeks if I remember correctly, which included a home visit. Stick with it. You’re going to give this dog a lovely home.

They sound annoying - but even more reason to get the dog out of there. There may be nobody else for this dog. You don’t ever have to deal with them again once you have the dog. I’d try to rise above it and keep pushing for a handover date.

@Forfukzsake I am worrying about that too!

I've never had an issue with cat rescues, but haven't even got to the enquiry stage with dogs, as according to the websites there are only ever two dogs in the country that can live with cats, and they are always 500 miles away.

@Delatron The thing is, because of the dog's history (several homes) they want fostering rather than adoption, I agreed to that from the start, it didn't bother me, but now I realise they might be difficult to deal with in the long term...

@Happylittlethoughts and @Thelnebriati
Sometimes rescue type personalities are tied up in control and hoarder issues.
These poor dogs!

Lovely to hear you got your dog from the Dogs Trust @Mrsherdwick Sadly we tried them years ago but the dogs they offered us were not for us at all.😞

@AnApparitionQuipped I don't have cats but I feel your pain.

Ah I see! How frustrating for you - surely they must see a loving home is far better than kennels. How long do they want you to foster for before they decide? Sounds ridiculous.

@Delatron Funny, but I hadn't thought about the fostering relationship side of things much, just assuming the best, until you pointed out I soon wouldn't have to deal with them anymore.
Sadly, and I really hope to be wrong but have to be realistic, the dog is really quite old so I'm not quite sure there would be time to move from fostering to adoption. I don't know.😕

Ah I see. I really hope it works out then and this lovely dog gets to spend some happy times with you. Hopefully once you foster the dog the rescue will be less annoying/intense - they may just leave you to it at that point. Fingers crossed.

Thank you @Delatron really kind of you to take an interest. I do hope if it all goes through they'll be a little easier to deal with.

I was wondering if others had come across this but it must be me then 😟

DH and I werent good enough for a dog when we wanted to get a second. We already had our first one for a few years and wanted a second one from a rescue.
we were rejected from several places for different reasons:

• no house and garden
• too young and fickle
• not enough money (because we werent willing to give them bank statements with our income 🤨

We ended up getting a rescue dog from spain. She stayed with us until recently when she died of old age. We gave her a beautiful home for 14 years..
We arent ready to get another dog yet, but im honestly not sure if i will even bother with local rescues anymore.

I've read lots of people on here having similar issues but it's never been the case for me. I've only had rescues and fosters, after the initial home visits everything moved rapidly for us.

I don't know, maybe it's us. Maybe they're cracked us and have seen through our nice façade.🤔

@Mumoffairy bank statements? In what world?

@Mumoffairy And so nice to hear your dog had a nice long life with you. Dogs only break our heart once. Sorry 💐

we've owned six rescue dogs from three different rescue charities, they were all trouble when they arrived and all their problems were caused by the previous owners. I was fully informed of the dogs problem behaviours before accepting.
When the last one died, we didn't get another; we're too old now to take on that commitment to rehab a dog that might outlast us.

Instead , we walk rescue dogs for a different well-run charity that tries to rehome them. Like all rescues at the moment, it's under huge pressure from sheer numbers of unwanted dogs. The staff work incredibly hard in stressful conditions. I can only imagine how frustrated they would feel if endlessly asked more questions by an impatient new owner about a dog whose placement has been agreed. From experience, the dog will fill you in when she gets home; and there will always be some surprises.

Most of the dogs I walk exhibit some kind of behaviour problem (the reason the previous owner gave up) which makes them harder to match to a suitable new owner/home. The longer dogs spend in kennels, the more stressed they get, the more complex the demands they may make on a new owner.

     The only reason the charity asks so many details about your circumstances, is because they are trying to match  them to the  needs and traits of  the dog they already  know.   It's  purely practical,   not "nosiness" or a "power trip" .  They want to get it right.  If a  placement fails, a returned/rejected  dog is now even harder to rehome.

Dogs Trust are fab and fairly down to earth in their requirements

How lovely that there are all these other people prepared to take on rescues, it's a difficult task! You are to be applauded.

I've had dogs from 4 different rescues, over the years, from 3 different parts of the country; they were all perfectly reasonable in their procedures and we didn't have any problems.

We can't rehome a cat, however, as we're 'too close to a road' and we have dogs. As a pp said about rehoming dogs, there seem to only be 2 cats in the country who can cope with a dog...

Hope you get your lovely friend soon, op. Maybe just ask them what the problem is? (if you haven't already). It does seem unfair on the poor dog.

I've been there OP.
I have also been on the other side and, to cut a long story short, most likely you're suffering the reaction from the poor behaviour of some previous potential adopters. People who looked fine - but then returned a dog (now, more messed up) after a week (or worse, DIDN'T return it, but handed it on somewhere unsuitable). Doesn't take many of those to make rehomers (of all but the sternest stripe) overly jumpy.

It is very upsetting though, when you expect to be received with - at least - cautious optimism.

If the dog is elderly, by the way, what's the arrangement for dealing with any vet fees that arise, if you're fostering? Particularly relevant if the dog is too old and with too much pre-existing history to easily insure.

We were approached by a specific breed rescue. They had a dog for us. We were apparently perfect and had come highly recommended by the breeder of our other dog. They were delighted to have found us and we arranged to go and meet/collect the dog. It was apparently urgent. The night before they had asked us to come I saw them post on FB asking for a home for the same dog. They had changed their mind about the type of home the dog needed and didn't even bother to tell us. It was a long drive away so I'm glad I happened to see the FB post before we left home!

We are now fostering a gorgeous pup from a local rescue and will be adopting him this weekend.

We'll not be engaging with the breed rescue again!