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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Dog Re-homing charities

51 replies

nitrox · 12/12/2013 17:29

AIBU?

I called a dog re-homing charity today to ask about a lovely looking 8yr old dog I had seen on their website. I was told straight away he can't be left for even an hour a week as he has attachment issues and is destructive.

Okay, so.. I work from home, don't really go out, can walk the dog for up to 2hrs a day, have no other pets, just myself and my partner (in our 30's), no children, good sized garden, big house, landlady's permission for a dog...

I just said 1 hour as I may need to pop to the shop or something.

So they suggested I visit them, fill out the forms and I would be offered a suitable dog. Fair enough, a sensible suggestion. So I drove there today, 40 min drive, no appointment required they said. Filled out the forms, was told to go and look at the dogs. I went and looked at them, decided on 2 of them as most suitable, but I'm not fussy over what I want.

I was told they weren't suitable as other people with dogs might walk past my house. I'd only said I live in a normal street, fairly quiet and have fields at the end where I would plan to walk the dog. But because she asked if people walk past my house to go to the field and I said yes, then it was a no straight away.

Told to go and view again and pick some more. So I did, 2 more dogs I chose (out of around 25), I was told they aren't suitable as they are long term dogs there and need a "special kind of home". I asked about the dog they had a big display on, and was told "he's our sponsor dog so no, well, he needs a special home".

So I was then offered puppies, I wanted an older dog to be honest, one that I can give a second chance to. I looked at them anyhow and yes, very cute.. but what about all the other dogs?

I feel really deflated and upset. I thought I was doing a good thing in trying to re-home a dog, we would love the dog, I have lots of time, am home all day, we don't have any visitors, I'm patient etc etc etc...

One excuse was that the dog didn't like being picked up.. Why would I pick a dog up?

Is it me? I don't understand what I've done wrong. I was basically told that none of them were suitable and to keep checking back with them.

p.s I told them I have had 2 RSPCA dogs previously, one was an older dog and one was a 5 month old jack/beagle puppy who had been returned 4 times and we were his 5th home, he was a difficult dog and we turned him around.

OP posts:

WaffilyVersatile · 12/12/2013 17:36

How odd! I know they like to be thorough (and that has to be a good thing) but I wonder why the person you spoke to was so dismissive! Not sure where you tried or where you are but there are probably other charities in your area you could try?

Original poster

nitrox · 12/12/2013 17:40

I'm going to try the RSPCA, this charity was called (Dog's Tr**t), I don't want to give them any bad press, but I'm quite shocked at today, and I drove a long way to have puppies pushed on me it seems. The girl showing me the puppies was lovely and very helpful, just not the reception staff.. and no-body came to talk to me about the older dogs at all.

OP posts:

offblackeggshell · 12/12/2013 17:42

The only experience I have had of re-homing charities is taking our own dogs from them. None of them were at all like that though. Quite odd.

I'd try a different rescue if you can.

mrscumberbatch · 12/12/2013 17:42

You sound like an ideal candidate for an older dog with possible issues... And eager too!

I would definitely flag this up with them as its almost like its preferable for the dogs not to have homes! I can't get my head around it.

revivingshower · 12/12/2013 17:43

Strange! Surely you must be the ideal candidate for adopting a dog. Normally it is things like kids, being out for too long, that can be a problem. Almost no-one could adopt the dogs you mention, so why even show them.

spindlyspindler · 12/12/2013 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ViviPru · 12/12/2013 17:48

YANBU

This sounds completely batty, I'd feel just like you. It sounds like they've made judgements on you with no basis. Those poor dogs, it sounds like you'd offer an ideal home. Please don't feel disheartened, you are doing a good thing, perhaps it was just a particular individual at the shelter/ this particular shelter.

The whole dogs walking past thing is utter NONSENSE. As are most of these reasons. How many people are going to live in a house where it is guaranteed dogs will never walk past?? With consistent training all of these issues they're citing for not allowing you to have these dogs should be (if not completely but greatly) remedied.

What's this mystical 'special kind of home' of which they speak? If it's a case of these particular dogs repeatedly having been homed unsuccessfully and returned so they're now super-picky then they should have said that to you. If the dogs are previous biters then again, you should have been told this rather than be made to feel that you can't offer a special home. Whoever is influencing the culture at the shelter sounds well-meaning but not especially well-informed.

GogoGobo · 12/12/2013 17:48

I had a similar experience. We have a 5 year old lab, wanted a 2nd dog and decided to get a rescue rather than a puppy. Turned down flat ad we have a 3 year old and they don't re home ANY dog with an under 7 as its not nice for the dog! WTAF?! I am home all day, belong to a dog walking club, etc.
Yet each day i get the sob stories on my Facebook feed asking for re homing volunteers.
Not all places are like it but some soon OTT in their criteria for re homing

GogoGobo · 12/12/2013 17:49

Sorry, not clear. We have a 3year old DS!

Floralnomad · 12/12/2013 17:53

Have you considered a trip to Battersea ,they have some lovely older dogs ,like Pete the Lurcher ( who has a masters degree) .

GiveItYourBestStockings · 12/12/2013 17:55

I had the same problem with Dogs Trust. I have a friend who runs a rehoming charity, please PM me if you would like details.

KittensoftPuppydog · 12/12/2013 17:57

If you are near London, try the Mayhew.
I've heard about this a lot, the end result being that people get a dog from a breeder instead of a rescue home. Mad.

ViviPru · 12/12/2013 17:58

I need to hide this thread or I'm going to start perusing dogs again. And we really can't have another.....

DameDeepRedBetty · 12/12/2013 17:58

This is the rescue I'm involved with. You sound like an ideal forever home to me.

SofaKing · 12/12/2013 17:59

I was the same Gogo, no rescue dog because I had dc under 7. We got ddog from a farm where her parents were the sheep dogs and so far at eight months she hasn't bitten the dc, nor have they made her life a misery, they are all young animals who play together happily.

Chattymummyhere · 12/12/2013 18:04

We used to help out with a breed group who some times needed emergency foster homes, we where rejected because of having children, and already having dogs.. Fair enough we continued to try and help in anyway we could, then we started hearing of others trying to become fosters for said breed group rejected but they had no kids, no other dogs etc. This led to an argument on their facebook page from yet again another rejected person where anyone who commented that surely an emergency foster home (which could be 1 night or hours while they found a more permanent foster home) that knew the breed and was willing to take in these dogs if they should need to was better than a dog on the streets or put to sleep, everyone was told to mind their own and that we all knew nothing, a lot of us withdrew all help and asked for our details to be removed that very day.. Shame really as it also means any other person who contacts us about certain breed type of group we now ask are you linked too X breed group as if its a yes we refused to be connected to them.

We also have a local dog re-homing center when we first wanted a dog we rang up to be told there was only 4 hours in a whole week of which you could visit and the whole family would have to come, great but my dh works and I don't drive and it was a busy period so he could not get time off within their open hours.. We brought a puppy instead it was easier even if we did travel 4 hours.

LtEveDallas · 12/12/2013 18:04

Many Tears Animal Rescue has lots of oldies at the moment (well all the time really) although they may not rehome near to Xmas (people take them then bring them back in the NY ). I didn't have any problem homing from them - and we are a military family with a (then) 4 year old

MTAR

offblackeggshell · 12/12/2013 18:04

Damn you. I've been really good at not browsing rescue sites….

OnaPromise · 12/12/2013 18:07

Yes just try a different charity. I volunteer for a greyhound rescue and they would love to hear from someone like yourself I'm sure.

Bakingtins · 12/12/2013 18:24

Meanwhile all these dogs languish in kennels at no-kill rescues, and hundreds and hundreds of dogs are put down every week because there are no rescue spaces.
My best friend is a dog trainer and was refused a rescue dog on the grounds that she works yes as a dog trainer, her dogs go with her
We lost our dog in September and so far no luck in finding one. Many places would rule us out on the grounds I work 2 days, even though we use a dog walker and I come home at lunchtime, others because we have children.
Funnily enough, our previous dog (a rescue but not from a charity) seemed pretty bloody happy for 14 yrs.

Creamtea1 · 12/12/2013 18:44

If you are in or near the midlands please look here: www.patteringpawsdogrescue.co.uk

The labrador on there is currently with me.

GogoGobo · 12/12/2013 19:35

sofaking glad you got your ddog and they are all having fun together! There is a huge swathe of happy middle ground between the dangerous breed brigade and the OTT pet rescuers and happily we fall into that middle ground. DS and DDog are firm pals and we have a lovely family dynamic of lots of walks in the woods and countryside days as a result

Original poster

nitrox · 12/12/2013 19:36

Hi everybody,

Thanks so much for the replies, it's nice to know I'm not going crazy.. maybe it's because I had a hoody and a bobble hat on? I can't think of any other reason that I wasn't welcomed and had various old pooches literally thrown at me.

I've been looking at puppies online tonight, which is so sad as I'm willing to take an older dog.. and I'd prefer an older one too as it means I don't have to toilet train

I've had a look about, I'm in East Yorkshire, and there are other re-homing places, so I'm going to keep a look out for a suitable dog and maybe go and visit some at the weekend.

Still so confused about today and really don't understand how any of these dogs will get a home...

Thanks for the support and your own stories.

Is getting an unwanted dog from Gumtree / Pets4homes a bad idea? Seems to be a few dogs on there in need of re-homing but I'm worried as I might not get the whole truth about the dog.

OP posts:

Original poster

nitrox · 12/12/2013 19:38

Creamtea1, is it Charlie? Can he travel in the car?

OP posts:

jellybeans · 12/12/2013 19:43

Complain to head management about it. I sponsor one of their dogs (and local dogs homes) and it needs looking into and it could prevent it happening in future and give older dogs the homes they deserve. I have only visited to see the sponsor dog but would love to rescue one. However we are a family with allergies sadly so sponsoring is the nearest we get to having a dog.

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