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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this shelter was a bit too quick to turn us down?

149 replies

PrincessTeacake · 17/02/2014 19:23

Myself and my Dad have been looking to adopt a dog since the one we had for fifteen years finally passed away two years ago. We're in the perfect position to adopt now, he's semi-retired and my days at work have been reduced so I can do more work at home. In the meantime, I'm learning how to drive and setting up my own part-time business. There's rarely an hour when there's not one or both of us in the house.

We made inquiries about a German Shepherd in dire need of a good home, we definitely have the space and the time to devote to a big dog and I have a history of taking on special needs animals. I filled out the paperwork, and we were turned down because we suggested building a large secure dog run in the garden with a purpose built shed for the dog to sleep in at night. We also said that during bad weather he'd be sleeping in the kitchen but that was overlooked.

I'm disappointed but more upset on behalf of the dog really. It has health problems and it's a big dog, it'll be very hard to rehome him and I feel like the shelter are leaving him stuck to a life in kennels.

OP posts:
WelshMaenad · 17/02/2014 19:26

Well, at least in kennels he'd be indoors. Why would you think that living outside is suitable for a dog with health problems?

LaurieFairyCake · 17/02/2014 19:26

Maybe they don't think dogs should sleep in sheds outside?

I know I don't.

poopooheadwillyfatface · 17/02/2014 19:26

I think that the least a dog deserves is to sleep in the house.

bumbleymummy · 17/02/2014 19:27

Maybe with his health issues they don't think he is suited to a life outdoors? They probably want him to be inside and be part of the family rather than outside in a dog run/shed all day and night.

WorraLiberty · 17/02/2014 19:28

If the dog has grown up with central heating and indoor life, it would be cruel to stick him in a shed.

It just depends on what he's used to.

PissesGlitter · 17/02/2014 19:30

You are being very unreasonable to think it's ok for a dog with health problems can just sleep in a shed!

Hegsy · 17/02/2014 19:30

Why get a dog then leave it outdoors? Yabu our neighbour 2 doors down keep their dog outside and I takes all my strength not to go to their door when I hear him crying at night Sad

Kippersbigfeet · 17/02/2014 19:30

Dogs are pack animals. They need to be with the rest of their pack i.e. you, indoors, not outside in a shed. Dogs that do live in kennels live in packs of multiple dogs,

Original poster
PrincessTeacake · 17/02/2014 19:31

Our old dog slept in the shed, it was purpose built for her and kitted out with cushions, blankets, toys and access to the outdoors when she needed to go to the toilet. She even had a sofa in there at one point (until she tore it up) and we always brought her inside when the weather was bad.

OP posts:
MrsWolowitz · 17/02/2014 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drnoitall · 17/02/2014 19:32

A large dog should be outside, other posters cannot seriously think this dog should live in doors.?
I think the shelter are being ridiculous.
Op you are right, they are being unrealistic to expect it cooped up inside.

wouldbemedic · 17/02/2014 19:35

You sound like a very humane animal lover but we don't know the dog's history. As they're pack animals and tend to come with issues from shelters, it's fair to assume it would be happier indoors with you. As for the shelter's policy, this is standard. They need to have a policy of some sort and wouldn't be doing their duty if they let everyone take a dog home who planned to leave it out in all weathers. A lot rests on this idea of a purpose built shed...is it going to be heated? In what weather will you decide to bring it in? How will you know if it's stressed out there? The shelter can't just assume you will get this right just because you know the phrase 'purpose built' - it's safer for them to stick to a policy that's pretty reasonable on the whole.

WorraLiberty · 17/02/2014 19:35

A large dog should be outside, other posters cannot seriously think this dog should live in doors.?

Why should a large dog be outside?

And yes, I do seriously think this dog should live indoors if that's what it's used to doing.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 17/02/2014 19:37

Simple answer: he belongs indoors.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/02/2014 19:37

A large dog shouldn't necessarily be outside - not of it's not used to it.

RunningInFlipflops · 17/02/2014 19:38

I don't think anyone is saying it should always be indoors! Of course any dog needs to spend time outside for exercise.

But I'm afraid I believe it would be unkind to expect it to live outdoors permanently. Dogs need to be with their pack and not spend night after night alone in a shed.

stickyg · 17/02/2014 19:38

I dont blame the shelter. I have a german shepherd and she's very much part of the family living indoors with us.

Bowlersarm · 17/02/2014 19:39

A dog needs to be in the family home, unless used to living outside.

You would bring the dog in if the weather was bad. But what about for the company it would need?

I wouldn't want any of my dogs rehomed where they would be kept outside, alone.

ClaudiusGalen · 17/02/2014 19:41

I've had German Shepherds in the past, currently have a massive German x Belgian Shepherd. He'd just cry all night if he wasn't in the house.

I don't really understand why you would want a pet dog if you aren't planning to have it as part of the family. A working dog perhaps, but not a pet.

Quinteszilla · 17/02/2014 19:42

The only dog I know living outdoors is my former neighbours Husky. He had his kennel just outside the house, and a long lead, and he would come in only in bad weather. He was brought up this way, and huskies tend to live outdoors.

SackAndCrack · 17/02/2014 19:42

So when would the dog be indoors?

Would it ever be indoors? Is the shed just for night time? Or most of the time? Is it every allowdd to settle down indoors and sleep?

If it is, why cant it do that during the night?

Presumably it would be spending most of its time in the shed.

How lonely.

Even if it was just night I dont agree with it anyway.

PumpkinPie2013 · 17/02/2014 19:43

The dog needs to live indoors and be part of the family.

Also, with you mentioning run maybe they thought you wouldn't take him for walks (not saying this is true just trying to see their point of view).

We had a german shepherd when I was growing up, although he wasn't rescued and he would have hated to be away from the family in a shed.

Original poster
PrincessTeacake · 17/02/2014 19:43

I'm from a rural area, all the dogs around here are outside dogs, I'd be of the opinion it's not healthy for a large dog to be cooped up in the house. The run was to span easily half of the garden which is roughly half an acre, and the shed is very warm and safe, and a good shady place when the weather is hot. We would have had the dog in the house frequently anyway, and with the woods nearby he would have had plenty of walks between us both. As for company, besides me and my Dad next door's dog takes a wander over here a lot (part of the reason we were going to build the run was because it's nigh impossible to completely secure the whole garden) and my uncle's dog is a frequent visitor, as well as all the local dogs. The dog would have been left by himself for, at most, an hour while we went for groceries or something.

All of the above was mentioned in the paperwork.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 17/02/2014 19:44

Our old dog slept in the shed, it was purpose built for her and kitted out with cushions, blankets, toys and access to the outdoors when she needed to go to the toilet. She even had a sofa in there at one point (until she tore it up) and we always brought her inside when the weather was bad.

Didn't the fact your old dog tore up the sofa, tell you anything?

I've had 3 dogs in my life (including my current one) and none of them have ever torn up a sofa.

If they did, I would take it as a sign of distress/boredom.

spiderlight · 17/02/2014 19:44

A large dog should be outside* Erm - why? A friend of mine has six Deerhounds and would never dream of making them sleep outside. A dog should be part of the family, and that means sharing the family home. Apart from anything else, I'd worry about outdoor dogs being an easier target for thieves.