Adopting/Rehoming animals - I'm trying to do the right thing but...

[FirstLeg]

...we have been contacting Shelters in the last few weeks about taking on a couple of guinea pigs. We used to have them until about 5 years ago, so know all about it, have all the kit etc.

However, we can't find ONE place that will accept us as suitable! Despite heving cared for 5 guinea pigs over the years, we aren't allowed to have any from a shelter because:
*we have a six year old (she is calm around animals and this can be seen when she visits the Shelter, plus she will be supervised when handling them/when they are out in the pen)
*our hutch is too small (it is 3 1/2 ft wide and our previous guineas were happy enough in it, it is fox/cat-proof, raised from the ground and has a nesting covered section). Apparently the RSPCA say many purpose-built hutches are too small...
*we will be keeping the guineas outside. Apparently they need to be in a shed in the winter. No-one told our old guineas that.
*one shelter wanted to do a home visit, but then told us we lived too far away...

Of course, if we went to the pet shop, we could of course just walk away with as many guineas as we want. Friends of ours keep their guineas outside, have the same size hutch, and have toddlers ffs.

I do accept that Shelters can't just hand over animals willy-nilly, but with all these restrictions, I suspect many of their guinea pigs will never find a home .

MrsDV, I found that with Battersea too, long ago before I got involved in rescue myself. I hope they've changed now.

I've met some truly lovely rehomers through the rescue I help out at hands-on. We're lucky as most of these folk are fairly local and being a small rescue they keep in touch with us all, joining the rescue's forum and popping in for tea and cake with our old canine friends, some helping the rescue out in the kennels or by bringing us blankets and the like and, as happened a week ago, many meeting up with us all again at dog show fundraisers.

But, oh god I've come across some asses! Included in these are:

The guy who rang us up to ask if we had an unspayed Staffie as he wanted one to breed with his dog. :(

The man who wanted an "outside yard dog as a guard, the more aggressive the better".

Several people who want a dog having at their own admission got rid of or had PTS the last one because he was too much hard work/a puppy who weed on the floor, chewed or mouthed/they had young kids... and yes, each of that latter lot still had kids and those DC were still young.

Those wanting a dog despite working full time and having neither provision nor intention of catering for the dog in their absence.

Various people who wanted a dog although their spouses definitely didn't.

A family who wanted an unneutered/unspayed dog or bitch because they "don't agree with" neutering.

Plus those who wanted to adopt without landlord's permission, with the intention of emigrating/moving on with the armed forces etc in the near future, those without gardens or fences in gardens they did have and no ability to erect them owing to land size or planning permissions, those who wanted a specific dog they'd seen on the forum regardless that he was totally unsuited to them (yeah, rescue really wants to home a prey-driven sighthound to a home with cats)... the list goes on.

And as for some of the reasons why people want rid of their poor dogs and the emotional blackmail they try, don't get me started!

So yes, rescue can be a bitch but by god we have to bite our tongues sometimes. And the vast majority of us in the independent rescues and all of those who, like me, act as middlemen in finding and matching rescue places for unwanted dogs as well as those who transport dogs to the safety of rescue are unpaid volunteers who do this in spare time, often to the detriment of our long-suffering families.

The key point is this - if you are a reputable rescuer of any sort you do not work for the owner who wants rid, nor for the prospective owner... you work for the dog and you will always put his best interests first.

And breathe. :)

Yes! The awwww but it not right innit? when you tell someone to get their dog spayed

Or SPAYDED as it was always pronounced

The 'I want her to have one litter so she knows what its like' defence (they then turn up a few weeks later with the said litter and expected us to get rid of it).

The Staffies (this was years ago when they were just becoming popular) bred with huge dogs and then bought into us for several hundred quids worth of 'free' treatment, CS, after care etc then rocking up to collect their little money makers - back again a few months later until the vets would have to spay and face the considerable wrath of the owners.

The ones that got to me the most were the ones with the huge, fat dogs who could hardly breath. Refusing to feed them properly because the 'love them so much'.

And the ones that allowed their very sick, in pain animals, sometimes with huge tumours to linger on for months and months instead of PTS.

I pressed send too soon.

Meant to say - understand how frustrating it is to work in the rescue/welfare field. Understand why people become jaded and

Its just very unpleasant to be a normal, animal loving person and to be treated as if you were far to stupid to look after a dog.

Flaming idiots! People often say to me that they don't know how I do what I do, MrsDV, but in comparison I have it easy. Unlike you I'm not paid staff, I don't work for a big organisation which has to follow rigid rules to the letter, even if they don't fit the situation, and best of all, as a volunteer I am entirely independent, particularly as a pound helper getting those poor souls to rescue. Even in my voluntary capacity as hands on helper for an independent rescue, where I deal with people who want rid and do "behind the scenes" work and research as well as just general dogsbody stuff, I am answerable only to myself and, more importantly, the dog.

I'd have been locked up in Holloway by now if I did your job!

We are thinking of adopting a cat from the National Animal Welfare Service and so far it has been a very positive experience. I have an 8 year old DS with SEN who is more like a three year old developmentally, and I thought they might see this as a problem, but they have been sensitive and understanding. DH is allergic to certain types of cat, and they have gone out of their way to try to make sure that we get a suitable pet. We have seen a cat we love, are going for a second visit next weekend, then will have a home visit. If all well, she will be ours!

We have seven guinea pigs btw. They all live outside, though we brought them in during the snowy weather last winter. They are right up against the house wall though, and we have insulation and rainproofing on the hutches.

Its been a long time since I did it DBF.
I no longer work with animals and I do miss it but I dont miss all that you have described.

Having 'been there' is one of the reasons I tend to defend others on animal threads that get heated. I am just glad someone else is doing it because I dont think I could anymore.

Maybe a nice little city farm would be nice but NO way would I work in an inner city animal hospital/rescue again.

I would most certainly end up in Holloway (which is very close to where I used to work!)