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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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.

OP posts:
Vallhala · 02/03/2011 23:40

"My kids are living through it, why shouldn't the dog."

Because last time I checked the NHS cared for sick children and won't put them to sleep - no, let's use the right term - KILL THEM when you have run out of cash.

Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 23:40

JoolyJoolyJoo - then they don't really need homes do they? Perhaps the advertising should be re-looked at "poor Stan has been in kennel for 7 months, he just needs a forever home" - if he doesn't what's the fuss about?

OP posts:
Scuttlebutter · 02/03/2011 23:41

As someone who does homechecks I can tell you straight I don't give a flying fu** about your decor, or your carpets. I want to assess your home and garden to see if it is SAFE for a dog, and I want to assess YOU to see if you understand your responsibilities as a pet owner. I am not the wallpaper police.

Most people with more than one dogs don't have them if they are madly houseproud anyway. Grin

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 23:42

Reelingin, thank you. Cheers!

Joolyjoolyjoo · 02/03/2011 23:44

And OP- be aware that cheap insurance won't necessarily pay all costs! With insurance (as with many things in life) you get what you pay for

SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worraliberty · 02/03/2011 23:44

That's what I was thinking Scuttle when I had a home check, I was in the middle of decorating. When I apologised for the 'state' of my lounge they were pleased and said it was the best time to home a dog who needed a bit of time to calm down and settle in.

They only checked the garden for a secure fence and to make sure there was nothing poisonous to dogs.

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 23:45

"JoolyJoolyJoo - then they don't really need homes do they? Perhaps the advertising should be re-looked at "poor Stan has been in kennel for 7 months, he just needs a forever home" - if he doesn't what's the fuss about?"

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

Because, (FFS do I really need to explain this?), 'Stan' might be okay in the rescue but all the while he is taking up a kennel space that's one less space for a pound dog.

And a pound dog has exactly 7 days in the pound if he's a stray, after which the pound can legally put him to sleep... and so often they do. A dog handed in to the pound by his owner can in law be put to sleep immediately - and often they are too.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 02/03/2011 23:45
SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 02/03/2011 23:46

Scuttle 'I am not the wallpaper police' Grin

worraliberty · 02/03/2011 23:46

Oh yes and the rehomers told me to avoid Pedigree Chum totally.

I had to buy a tin once cos we ran out of his normal food and fuck me, did he fart like a goodun for 48hrs. I'm not sure he crapped for a few days either Blush

SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 23:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 02/03/2011 23:47

oooo I feel like an impostor on this thread being the owner (or should I say being owned by Grin) my absolutely gorgeous cat (who is now giving me dirty looks as the kettle has woken him up) and having no dogs. I would have loved to rescue a dog - however I knew that I just couldn't do it, walking daily no matter the weather (with 3 children in tow who would have no choice over the matter), etc.

reeling - I couldn't imagine giving my lovely Jambo back either - he's only been with us a month - but it feels like he's been here forever.

I'd love another one actually but I won't - for 2 reasons - firstly he was advertised as "not liking other cats"..........

Secondly - and most importantly - while I could find the adoption fee for another cat I know that I can't commit to the financial costs of having another.

Of course if I stopped looking at the CPL website at their cats for adoption I may not want another one so badly - especially when there is one on there now that could be my Jambo's twin - the same black patches on his body Shock

Joolyjoolyjoo · 02/03/2011 23:47

SuperHans- they DO need homes, because there are another squillion dogs waiting on their heels to to actually get into that kennel and avoid being put to sleep Sad

Rescues don't have limitless resources, but unfortunately there seem to be limitless amounts of dogs needing rescued- that is the fault of the owners, not the dogs and not the rescues. Rehoming them to owners who can't afford to care for them, or aren't sufficiently interested to allow the rescue to check that their homes are suitable is not the answer for these guys.

fifi25 · 02/03/2011 23:47

Just a thought but is a dog better off dead than someone not being able to afford to buy anything other than pedigree chum/bakers and not having pet insurance. Some centres kill the dogs within a week apparently. I am just curious as those animals could have many a happy healthy years ahead of them. I am all for the home check though. Some weeks my dogs get butchers other times supermarkets own make and at least twice a week they get mince or chicken with rice. The staffs 5 and never been poorly yet.

issey6cats · 02/03/2011 23:47

i work at a cat rescue in yorkshire and transpose the word cat for dog in vallhallas posts and every thing she has said is so true, we get cats in because they are pregnant, owners have a new baby, someone dies in the family and no one wants the cat, because they have become strays, people have moved house and left the cat behind, people get old and go into residential care or hospital, allergies, we had a mom and her kits dumped in a cardboard box at the gates luckily she was a good mom and stayed there (all rehomed happily) one of our moms was dumped in a skip wrapped up in old curtains and it looks like she was still giving birth, one of my cats was from there and him and his siblings were dumped in a carrier bag at ten days old in a park, hand reared by the lady who lives on the premises and is now a huge hooligan, i have six cats and dont flame me they are not insured but i put an amount into a cat bank account each month to cover vet fees ooh here comes my other rescue cat who was born to a feral mom, so OP yes the rescue centers go all out to make sure that thier charges go to the right home not just any home

SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 23:48

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Janoschi · 02/03/2011 23:48

I've only ever had rescue animals. Wouldn't even consider a puppy. Our current dog is a wonderful, maternal, gentle girl, great with small children, despite a previous life of serious starvation and abuse.

Regarding children and rescue dogs, I doubt a rescue centre would put a guarantee on any dog being good with under-12s because while they might know the dog, they sure don't know your kids. One toddler pushed his hand up my dog's bottom and frankly I thought he was damn lucky my dog was too surprised to react! Some kids can be horrible, but others are wonderful. You do need to be honest with yourself though as to which camp your child falls into!

I absolutely recommend a rescue dog. The rewards are far far higher than for a normal puppy.

Vallhala · 02/03/2011 23:50

Yep Reelin, it's official, Baker's is shite. Food with that kind of junk in it could well be fatal to my long haired white GSD - he's epileptic.

As an aside, I have only had about 6 alcoholic drinks in as many months and I gave up smoking too. I can feel a glass of red wine and a cigarette calling me at the moment though... Angry

This is not good for my blood pressure!

Also, Hans, I wouldn't give a stuff about your decor either... it's your attitude that would worry me!

Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 23:50

Don't really know why you have all freaked out.

My point was that I love my dog and would love to love another. That's it really, I think your freakoids have been of your own making.

Thank you Scuttlebutter - I kind of feel ashamed about my home since the dog has shat everywhere.
I must admit that the kids did a lot of scribbling in the past and I am not too houseproud.
My point is that I presume a dog is happy in a home environment - or not. Some are - I guess some are not.

But I know my dog loves us and is happy and is not suffering even though we are broke atm.

OP posts:
SugarPasteFrog · 02/03/2011 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worraliberty · 02/03/2011 23:52

My son was only 4 when we re-homed a dog from a rescue center. They were perfectly happy because they knew the dog's history as he had been handed in by the owners (family with 3 small kids) because they had to move house and were unable to have a pet where they were moving to.

Original poster
SuperHans · 02/03/2011 23:54

I thought PC was fab - I have bought PC dry and wet and thought I was doing fine! Dog seems to like them both.

OP posts:
worraliberty · 02/03/2011 23:54

Jesus of course your dog loves you. That's what dogs do. But what has that got to do with you not being able to afford to keep pets? Hmm