Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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. Confused 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.

Hmm

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:
D0oinMeCleanin · 12/12/2013 19:45

This dog rehoming charity would rehome to you based upon what you've said here

May I give a special mention to Blue and Warren? Both long term dogs, both sadly over looked, Blue especially would love somewhere he can be walked for 2 hours a day and Ruby is pretty awesome too, though very young and puppy-ish.

IloveCheese11 · 12/12/2013 19:46

Whereabouts in the country are you nitrox? I know of a few very reputable rescues who would love to hear from someone like you?

Original poster
nitrox · 12/12/2013 19:48

East Yorkshire Smile

OP posts:
TooOldForGlitter · 12/12/2013 19:50

OP try asking for this thread to be moved to the doghouse. There are lots of people there who can point you in helpful directions who might not see this thread here.

IloveCheese11 · 12/12/2013 19:50

Great, will check and be right back!

Original poster
nitrox · 12/12/2013 19:51

Thanks for the link doingmecleanin, I'll have a look now!

OP posts:
newfavouritething · 12/12/2013 20:03

Have you tried the kennels at South Cave? A friend of mine has just got a second dog from there, and they seem quite straightforward to deal with.

soundedbetterinmyhead · 12/12/2013 20:06

I wonder if certain large charities, as mentioned above might actually be more keen on punters giving them money to sponsor dogs they have rather than taking them home. It's just that staff then get to spend time working with and training dogs they get to know (which is presumably why they work there and enjoy it), and sponsors pay for this to happen. I think that actually rehoming or taking new animals is quite far down the list of priorities for some large charities.

(NB: I know this is not the case for all, it's just a feeling I get from my experience)

IloveCheese11 · 12/12/2013 20:06

This group are in N Yorks but I think they also have a branch in E Yorks:

www.facebook.com/#!/EmergencyAnimalRescueSupportears

CMOTDibbler · 12/12/2013 20:13

We found that with Dogs Trust too - no effort to match us with a dog, just reasons we couldn't have any of them.

Our very lovely lurcher was rehomed from Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher rescue where they seem to want to find dogs homes!

Original poster
nitrox · 12/12/2013 20:24

That's so sad that people have had the same experiences, really is a shame they are doing that and I hope something will be done as I know I could have re-homed quite a few of the dogs I saw today.. Sad

I've had a look at South Cave, looks great! They are 15mins away from me, so I'll call them tomorrow.

I've looked at all the links, and have saved them.. will try and give them all a call tomorrow and see what the best course of action is.

Thanks again x

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 12/12/2013 20:26

It's a familiar story that I hear from people a lot. A good friend of mine has been involved in the dog world for years (is a senior obedience and agility judge), lives next to the beach, works from home, her dogs sleep on the bed and get a run on the beach every day, and they travel all over the country with her to compete in obedience and agility trials in her motorhome. She prefers rescue over buying from a breeder but was knocked back on the basis that she actually was going to train her dog which according to the rescue is "cruel".

Some rescue people seem to take it all far too personally. You cannot control every little aspect of a person's life, and a dog with no apparent separation anxiety being left on its own for a few hours is certainly preferable to a life in a kennels or being put down. There's not exactly a mass supply of homes where there's always someone home 24/7. I'm a dog obsessive, have six of my own, but I firmly believe that dogs need to fit in with our lives and are perfectly happy to do so. Some of the requirements of rescue are not only unrealistic, but can lead to problems down the track when their precise expectations of dog ownership cannot be met by the new owners.

Another option for those looking for a pet is breed specific rescues. If you're interested in a particular breed of dog, but would like to rescue an older dog, then try giving the breed club of that breed a call. You can get the contact details from the Kennel Club. Practically all of them have a rescue group where you can find out details of rescues/rehomes of that breed. It's a good choice if you have a certain breed that you love, especially if they're one that doesn't always come up in rescue very often.

D0oinMeCleanin · 12/12/2013 20:41

Being as large as they are DT cannot risk any bad publicity so are super careful when rehoming, you often find smaller rescues are much more flexible.

It's easy to blame the rescue, but it's a bit of catch 22 situation for us, if we make a mistake and give you the wrong dog, we get bad mouthed, if we take extra precautions so as to make sure everyone is matched with the right dog, we get bad mouthed, plus it's not good for the dogs to be bounced from home to home, so we do have to try and make the right matches.

GRACE, the rescue I linked to, work slightly differently, they'll give you a 2 week home trial with the dog before you commit to the dog so that we can establish that both dog and adopter are right for each other without having to go ott. If it doesn't work out the dog is returned to the original foster home to minimise disruption. Of course we still do our best to match you with the right dog, but the 2 week trial gives us a bit of leeway.

MrsBramleyApple · 12/12/2013 20:45

I got my lovely Jackabea from Jerry Green Dog Rescue. They used to have a branch in Suffolk but have closed it since I got my boy. They have branches in Lincs, Notts and Yorks!!

MrsBramleyApple · 12/12/2013 20:47

OP I am about to message you!

Creamtea1 · 12/12/2013 20:47

nitrox I will pm you, it is Charlie

AscoyneDAscoyne · 12/12/2013 21:01

Hi, i am involved with a smaller greyhound rescue charity and any animal charity worth it's salt are very careful to match the right animal with the right family. It sounds like you would be a great owner for the right dog however maybe the right dog for you just wasn't there that day?
It's likely that the charity would tell a different story to you so it seems a bit unfair to name them without them having a right to reply. The situation in animal rescue is absolutely at crisis point as it is. Mismatching an animal to a new home can cause it to bounce back and make it even harder to re-home which just aggregates the situation.
Good luck for the future, please don't be put off by the experience, there are thousands of animals being destroyed every year as I am sure you are aware.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 12/12/2013 21:46

Welcome to the odd world of the dog re homing charities, its maddness out there it really really is.

everyone has an opinion on the dogs....

blobandsnail · 12/12/2013 22:22

Another who's had similar experience with the same charity here. As a true dog lover they really irritate me. All dogs deserve a loving home with a loving human for company. Being a sponsor dog in a pen all day, however much attention they give them is not the same as having a nice sofa to lay on with a nice human to feed you treats and scratch your ears.

Try and find an independent rescue centre. They'll be much more receptive and actually want to help you find your perfect doggie companion. If you don't have any near you, the RSPCA are generally good too. We've had two rescue dogs now. The first from the RSPCA (after DT were very unhelpful and anti rehoming) and the second from an independent rescue centre run by an elderly couple who rescued small numbers of dogs and really cared that each one found their forever home. They also didn't charge an expensive donation. Although we did give them a decent amount of money just because the work they did was really good and you could see it was really helping needy animals.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 12/12/2013 22:30

What an odd experience. Our dog came from the Dogs Trust (Shropshire branch), they were lovely and sensible. They helped us a few months later when we were having behavioural problems with our dog and generally were great.

I hope a lovely dog finds you soon OP.

LEMisafucker · 12/12/2013 22:36

YANBU - my friends tried to get a dog from the dogs trust years ago and were refused because they couldn't get their vet to sign to say they were good owners. The reason? They were both vets!! but no, wasn't enough Grin

LEMisafucker · 12/12/2013 22:44

I actually have a dog from the dogs trust though - ironically, years back we were after a dog as my rottie had just died, very open minded about what he had but the woman didn't seem to like us and was told nothing suitable wthout really taking the time to find out what we wanted, hat experience we had (i was a vet nurse at the time) we gave up and went to battersea where we were given a rottie with some issues, but they worked with us to sort it out, yes it was a long process to get him but they actively tried to find us a dog, the DT seemed to actively try to put us off.

Fast forward several years, we already had one dog at home and we popped in one day when we were passing and had some time to kill. We had no intention whatsoever of getting a dog - DP asked about an oldish border collie and was told - no, shes not suitable for children (DD was 6). Fair enough- but they said what about "gollum" (we have now changed that name!) who is a JRT who was about 8 months old - history unknown, came over from ireland with his brother who was already rehomed. Before i knew it - we had a new dog Hmm Grin I'm not complaining we have had him nearly two years now and we adore him but it was so the wrong way to go about rehoming - it was a total spur of the moment, fuck it lets get another dog scenario - the rehomer was donig a hard sell!!

Original poster
nitrox · 13/12/2013 14:04

Hi everybody,

Seems something very odd with them, I'd heard stories of the RSPCA being a little over cautious with fence heights and how people who went out to work, so I thought I'd be an ideal candidate. Apparently not.. very posh looking re-homing center too.

Anyhow, I've found a lovely little dog home not too far away and they have 3 or 4 possible dogs that would suit us, so I'm going over on Sunday to meet the little guys and see if they like the smell of me Grin

OP posts:
Freddiefrog · 13/12/2013 14:19

We had the same experience with Wood Green a few years ago.

101 excuses as to why we couldn't rehome any of the dogs, but did we want to sponsor a dog/donate/sign up to a monthly direct debit?

My parents had the same experience with them. They went to a local greyhound rescue centre in the end and were welcomed with open arms

Ginocchio · 13/12/2013 14:29

Oddly, I had the complete opposite experience with Dogs Trust. I went to ask about what their requirements were for having a dog (thinking "I know I can't have one now, but I'll see whether it's likely in the future").

They told me that I could still have a dog even though I'd be leaving them for 8hrs. When I said that my kids are with me a couple of days a week, they changed the form to class them as visitors. I don't have a garden either - just a small yard.

They pushed me to meet a 7yo Greyhound, and wanted me to come back the next day to collect. I didn't take the dog in the end, because I could see it wouldn't be fair on it, but they were really pushing for me to take one.

Swipe left for the next trending thread