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AIBU?

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Original poster

I think it is too hard to rehome an animal

479 replies

SuperHans · 02/03/2011 22:20

I bought a puppy a few months ago and I really love him - he was the right choice for us. He cost £100.

He was vacc's and I will pay to have him castrated soon.

He has been such a success that I have been looking into getting him a companion. I would like to help a dog and rescue them but they want stupid amounts of money and loads of home vists.

I am just put off, and it is a shame because I could easily home another dog and give him a good life.

I think I will just buy another puppy I am afraid.

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BeerTricksPotter · 02/03/2011 22:21

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reelingintheyears · 02/03/2011 22:23

We got our rescue collie and they only asked for £80 to cover their costs.

We had her vaccinations done and had her chipped.

This was 6 years ago though.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 22:24

Wouldn't buying a new puppy and then paying for all his vacc's etc cost just as much (if not more?) than rehoming one? As usually all those things are included.

LessNarkyPuffin · 02/03/2011 22:24

A dog that's already been abandoned deserves a good home. The checks are to prevent any animals ending up being dumped back at the shelter again, to make sure that the home is a good fit for that particular dog. If you can't be bothered to have the checks done could you be bothered to put in the extra effort that many rescue dogs need?

reelingintheyears · 02/03/2011 22:25

They did a home visit aswell.
And we took her for a walk before we took her home.

But that was all.

rinabean · 02/03/2011 22:26

If bred puppies are cheaper, bear in mind that the puppies are basically free for the shit breeders, they don't train them, take them to the vets enough, if they can't find someone to pay for it they give it away to be used as fighting bait. Or they dump it on the already over-full centers and hope for better luck with the next litter. Don't give money to dog breeders, please!

Besides, the cost you've quoted is generally more than a rescue dog, and most rescue dogs are already neutered and have some degree of training. Also a bonus of dogs over puppies is that you have a clearer idea of the temprament. :)

poochela · 02/03/2011 22:28

The rehomers have a responsibility to the animal to make sure it goes to the right place/people etc etc but we did the same and went to a breeder as the 'ideal' the RSPCA are looking for is pretty unacheiveable. Sad for the stacks of animals who wont be rehomed because of screening overkill.

Margles · 02/03/2011 22:28

I am just about to rehome a cat. Yes, they would like a £50 donation but they will have chipped, vaccinated and neutered the cat, and I would spend at least that if I had to do it myself, so it doesn't seem unreasonable.

Someone did come to my house. They just need to make sure that you know what you are letting yourself in for, and who is going to be responsible.I had been worried about it, but I needn't have done - it turned out to be a pleasant short visit where we discussed our pets.

I don't know if it's more work when rehoming a dog, but I wouldn't have thought so.

TheArmadillo · 02/03/2011 22:29

surely though the rescue will make sure the puppy's jabs are up to date and that they are castrated thats saving you a bit of money.

Also they are dealing with dogs that have already been mistreated. They may need more care/specialist handling than your average dog. They have a duty of care to ensure that the dog is rehomed responsibly, not just to anyone who wants it. IT would be irresponsible not to mention stupid of them not to do checks.

Its really not that much of a bother (I rehomed 3 rescue cats).

Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 22:29

LessNarky - I know what you mean - but I have "happily" cleaned up loads of you know what and really been kind and nice to our puppy. I would also be kind to a new dog.

I don't know, something grates - it's like "please help us, but not if you can't afford it".

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zukiecat · 02/03/2011 22:29

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BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 22:32

I recently rehomed a cat (ok I know this is about dogs - but I'm pretty sure the process must be fairly similar). On my home visit within 3 minutes she had launched into a wonderful description of how to settle a rescued cat into a new home for my DS's and their friends that were here at the time. And that was it.

Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 22:32

rinabean - it wasn't a dogbreeder - just someone whose bitch had had 2 puppies and he knew my ex-DH and the "breeder" had had the puppy 12 weeks, fed it and had it vacc'd - I thought £100 was fair.

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TheArmadillo · 02/03/2011 22:33

if you can't afford the outlay for a pet are you sure you can afford upkeep, sudden vet bills etc. PEts are expensive. We got asked lots of questions about our finances when we adopted our cats.

IS it really that more expensive than £100 plus vet charges?

SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 22:35

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BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 22:36

""please help us, but not if you can't afford it""

Well that makes sense - if you can't afford to pay out to get an animal - can you actually afford to care for it properly?

Don't know exactly what you "get" with dogs - but with my cat I got a fully vaccinated, neutered, micro chipped cat, and 4 weeks free insurance! (and a cat that was going to be suited to our family)

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 22:37

YABU. I am a rescuer. What you're saying is extremely inaccurate and damaging to rescue.

A decent rescue's donation includes all vaccinations, spay or neuter as appropriate, vet check, microchip, any flea and wormer treatment and lifelong support and advice as well as a guarantee that the rescue will take the dog back at any stage in his life if the new owner cannot keep him. The average cost of a rescue dog is between about £75 and £150 depending on which rescue you are going through.

You try getting a puppy for that, apart from via a puppy farm or backyard breeder, much less one which is vaccinated, neutered and chipped. That's to say nothing of food, any medication the dog may have needed whilst he was at the rescue, kennelling costs - not all rescue staff are volunteers and it costs to heat and light kennels, for cleaning products, treats, leads etc etc.

Rescue normally only does ONE homecheck (sadly we don't have time or resources for more) not "loads of home visits". Where on earth did you get that idea/information from?

You are being very, very unreasonable to give a highly inaccurate image of dog rescue as you're likely to deter people from rescuing unnecessarily.

YABU to buy a puppy when so many dogs die each week for want of homes too, but that's another thread in itself.

breatheslowly · 02/03/2011 22:38

When our local paper does a rehoming feature - with lots of dogs and cats available - it makes me understand why so many are waiting for homes. Apparently none of the dogs are suitable for putting with children under 12. I can't disagree as the shelters know the dogs and I don't, but it seems unlikely that they have no dogs that could live with younger children. We tried to rehome guinea pigs from a shelter, but they didn't think it was right that they would be kept indoors (in a massive run). That was quite odd as in the "guinea pig world" keeping them indoors is considered to be better for them. We ended up getting babies from a breeder.

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 22:39

Oh, and that 75 to 150 pounds covers assessment, training and any behaviouralist's assistance too.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 22:40

oh yes Val - forget about the support and guarantee as well.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 02/03/2011 22:41

I'm a vet, and entirely in favour of the home-checks and the fact that people have to pay.

the charities/ rescue organisations will have paid for vaccination, chipping, worming, and often also pay for neutering- all these can be worth around £200 or more, depending on where you are in the country.

In the bad old days, when rehoming was easier, I saw some awful cases where the owners basically treated the dogs as disposable- to the extent that one scumball client wanted the dog (1 yo) put to sleep for fleas, the dog mysteriously went missing when I refused (although he refused my offer to try to rehome Angry) 2 weeks later he was back with another little pup from the rescue (won't say which one) and I was livid. I had to get my boss to see him as I didn't trust myself. Looking back at records from before I worked there I discovered that this family had owned about 6 dogs in as many years, and all had been either "lost", put to sleep for aggression Hmm or "rehomed"- always at about 1-2yo. I phoned the rehoming centre telling them the people's history and that they shouldn't be given any more pups, but they apparently couldn't take any of their previous history into account.

If rehoming is too easy, sadly too many people will do it on a whim. Dogs are a HUGE responsibility, and only people who can show they are prepared for that responsibility should be considered good candidates for rehoming, otherwise these poor guys end up going from pillar to post Sad

When I got my first dog, the breeder absolutely grilled me about my lifestyle/ knowledge of the breed/ daily routine etc before allowing me to even look at her pups! And so she should have- I took absolutely no offence. In fact, it made me even happier I was getting my boy from a responsible breeder (disclaimer- will however be getting a rescue next time! Promise!)

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 22:43

SugarPasteFrog, thanks for the namecheck. :)

To make it clear though - I don't work for any rescue. I am an independent rescuer - largely networking but at times taking on dogs, cats and small animals myself - and I'm a hands-on, get covered in shit mud volunteer for a local independent rescue too.

The benefits being I don't answer to anyone except the dogs! :)

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 22:44

breatheslowly - I should imagine the ones that are shown in the features are the ones that fewer people want becauuse they're older animals, or because they are very shy/timid/afraid/anything else I've missed. I know from watching the local CPL website the "confident" "friendly" "playful" cats and kittens are adopted much quicker than the ones that are going to need a bit more TLC. Of course all the ones with the "positive" attributes will cope just fine around children - so people snap them up quicker.

SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 22:44

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Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 22:44

Valhalla - I understand what you are saying. And I suppose it is because I am cash strapped at the moment - but I am getting my dog vet'd at the putney animal clinic.

What I am saying - is I am a nice person who is kind to animals and would adopt another dog. But, we are broke atm, but the kids aren't suffering, and a new dog wouldn't either.

Just because I am cash strapped a terrier I could have doesn't have a home. That's what I am saying.

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