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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sad that more people don't consider rescue dogs?

132 replies

Keletubbie · 27/02/2016 09:24

Overly emotional, flicking through Facebook, and several local shelters are at capacity and appealing for homes for their residents. Rows and rows of sad looking middle aged dogs. Breaks my heart.

We're currently at canine capacity so none of them can come here (probably Grin) but I can't fathom why nobody wants them... 😢

OP posts:
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5
MonkeysInShoes · 27/02/2016 09:42

Are there any dog rescues that are willing to rehome to families who work outside the home?

I'm flexitime, but there would be times when a dog would be left alone for a short time, I know we don't fit the RSPCA criteria

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 09:43

Could I just clearing again that I was giving examples of puppies? To counter those that will come on to the thread and say that it's always older dogs in rescue.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 09:46

clarify

CalleighDoodle · 27/02/2016 09:46

Ive also been to rescue centres but i have children aged 4&5 and teoncats and i work outside the home so the ones i went to wouldnt consider me purely for the last reason. I tried to get m parents on board and say ill drop off dog to their house (along with the children) on way to work, as they are retired, but they weent having any of it.

CMOTDibbler · 27/02/2016 09:50

EGLR rehome to people who work, with children (even little ones) and with cats/other animals.

Wolfiefan please look at Dogmatix - he is good with children and cats, not high energy, being rehomed through no fault of his own at all.

MrsJayy · 27/02/2016 09:52

We have had 3 rescues 1 from the dog pound he was lovely but ill and died we had huge vet bills the other a puppy from sspca she also developed health issues 3rd from dogs trust the criteria was really strict there and he was to go to an over 14 home which we just scrapped by a few days rescues are full to burst with collies and staffies I can see why people opt for a puppy they want a family dog they can judge temprament and get to know their dog. Some rescues wont give to young families.

harshbuttrue1980 · 27/02/2016 09:54

Rescue centres are totally unrealistic, and would rather keep the animals languishing in shelters than being adopted to homes which are 90% suitable rather than 100% perfect. A friend tried to adopt a dog and was told that she couldn't as she worked full-time. This was despite the fact that she was happy to take an elderly, sleepy dog, and despite the fact she could afford a dog walker to come every day. She adopted from Gumtree in the end.

Not many homes fit the RSPCA criteria. Even where there is a SAHM, chances are the SAHM will go back to work at some stage. Not many people can afford the luxury of having someone at home all the time to be there for a dog.

Working all day and leaving an energetic dog alone all day with no way to exercise or go to the loo all day is cruel. People who have doggy doors or who hire dog walkers while they work are offering perfectly good homes and should be allowed to adopt.

MrsJayy · 27/02/2016 09:56

Our collie bless him is nuts it really is sad to see sometimes and he needed a lot of work he isnt really a young family dog he needs space and quiet and not to be fussed over

Waypasttethersend · 27/02/2016 09:56

My parents took a puppy from an RSPCA centre after having our adorable previous rescue die at a grand old age. The puppy constantly bit Dsis (age gap she was 5), and didn't matter what we did, was growing like a weed so obviously going to be a large dog not a small as described and she was terrified so we had to return him. The rescue then said if we were going to be so useless as to return the huge aggressive pup we were blacklisted!

So they went and got a pup from a reputable breeder.

Rescues make it hard even for good homes sometimes sadly.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 09:57

Lots re home to children and homes with cats.
I hope that people don't come on to put others off rescue. So many dogs are bred and then dumped or are unwanted, it takes a bit of effort to find the right one but there are some lovely dogs around. I have a rescue pedigree, full paperwork, lineage going back six generations including several cruft winners. Her vet bills in the last four years are over 3k.

To be sad that more people don't consider rescue dogs?
Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 09:58

Puppies do nip.

Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 10:00

I have also applied for more than one dog from black retriever x. They have exactly the sorts of dogs we would love. But I have cats and kids and don't have a dog already.
Obviously rescues need to think about what dogs need and want to avoid dogs being returned. But they rule many people out.
I am not being picky but I am being honest about what would suit us. I don't want a terrier or spaniel or tiny dog. Sorry but no. I have actively tried to get a rescue but haven't found one.

blackcatwhitewhiskers · 27/02/2016 10:00

harsh has said what i was going to.

I have always got cats from rescue centres and always would, but I know I wouldn't be considered for a dog due to working full time.

MrsJayy · 27/02/2016 10:01

3k in vet bills Shock

Waypasttethersend · 27/02/2016 10:01

No not nip, chase down and bite and hold on.

We've had lovely rescue dogs prior to that, and would have sought a better match, perhaps an older dog as we'd had previously. The rescue was wrong to block that.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 10:03

wolfie black retriever cross do re home cat tested dogs and to those with children. Maybe it was that particular dog? They are on a go slow at the moment as the lady who runs it is a tv producer doing a big documentary on Parkinson's. They are still trying to take on desperate cases.

Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 10:07

I know about the go slow and that they do rehome to families like us. I have applied for another dog from them. I'm waiting to hear back.
But still the fact remains I have hunted for a year and to no avail. I may have the option of a pedigree pup from a breeder I know next month. I could end up taking that.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 10:09

I have messaged her wolfie, she might come on to the thread hopefully.

This one is nice for a family

To be sad that more people don't consider rescue dogs?
Oysterbabe · 27/02/2016 10:10

My mum always gets her dogs from rescue centres and always picks difficult ones because she feels sorry for them. I went with her once and there was a beautiful, sweet little collie that trotted up to the wire to meet us, tail wagging like mad. A few cages down there was another collie that was going crazy and had actually fractured it's leg from jumping against the walls. No prizes for guessing which one she picked. She had Hugo for 10 years and he died recently of old age.
She has a new ASBO dog which is a giant, fat husky / lab cross. Good job she has plenty of space and time.

I guess people worry about behavioural issues with rescue dogs.

Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 10:11

I have said I wouldn't want a collie or a staff type!
I grew up with dogs. I know what would suit us.

Floralnomad · 27/02/2016 10:11

We got a slightly older pup from Battersea ( he was 15/16 weeks) , I must admit we got lucky the day we visited as we also didn't want a staffy - I'm sure they are lovely but they don't float my boat . I do think there should be a crack down on dogs coming in from rescues abroad ( Ireland not included) ,there are enough dogs to rescue here already and I don't think they are properly quarantined so who knows what diseases they are bringing in . The RSPCA are just ridiculous , took us 3 weeks to rehome a rabbit from them by the time we'd jumped through all the hoops .

tabulahrasa · 27/02/2016 10:11

"I have a rescue pedigree, full paperwork, lineage going back six generations including several cruft winners. Her vet bills in the last four years are over 3k."

I have one that I bought, first dog I've owned that wasn't a rescue...pedigree full of champions, related to two best of breeds at crufts while we've had him...we're up to about £20 000 in vets bills in 3 years and behavioural issues caused by the medical problems so severe that behaviourists have turned him down.

My next dog will be another rescue, the main reason this one wasn't was to get a dog from a puppy and so start with a clean slate with a breed we knew was suitable, given how it's turned out - no rescue could have as many problems, I might as well rescue.

SuburbanRhonda · 27/02/2016 10:13

And where's another reason, OP:

I don't want a staffy. Sorry but I don't.

A whole breed dismissed in one fell swoop. Lovely.

NeedACleverNN · 27/02/2016 10:14

I would love to take on a rescue dog.

However my youngest is one so lots of dogs are already ruled out.

I don't drive so I can't travel to somewhere like whales where there are a lot of puppies.

And I want a specific breed which plenty of rescues tell me is not suitable around children despite me having one with little ones before.

This means I HAVE to look for a puppy.

If rescues weren't overly strict, there wouldn't be as many dogs in rescues

Yes some need to be bound by rules, for example the woman looking at a husky whilst living in a flat but others the rules could be bent for the right dog

Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 10:15

I think staffys are lovely dogs but they can be bloody strong on the lead and they are hugely powerful. I don't want one. But then neither do I want a boxer or Great Dane!