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

[Keletubbie]

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 ) but I can't fathom why nobody wants them... 😢

Floralnomad dogs don't need quarantine anymore. There are very strict testing procedures for getting a pet passport and the dogs are all tested before leaving. The rescue that I linked to also cat tests them and has them a assessed by a behaviourist.
The highest risk is puppy smuggling from abroad in the back of vans, these are distributed to fakers who pass them off as pure bred puppies from a local breeder.

I do not know about dogs but if it similar to cats then I can understand why. Some rescue organisations place so many restrictions on cats that people are out off. For example, no cat younger than a year if you have children under one no cat flap. The questioning assumes that you will be a poor cat owner and unsuitable which you have to disprove rather than the other way around.

Well, the last time I rescued a dog it ended up biting my son on the neck.

We met with the dog a few times, it was great for a few weeks and then he bit him. He bit him because my children (who are not tiny) were playing a game on the living room floor, the game ended and ds sat on the couch and the dog jumped off another couch and bit him on the neck. I understand that the dog was probably pissed off because it was quite noisy but he did have a place to go to away from everyone else. The rescue blamed me for allowing my children to play on the floor.

It has put me off rescuing another again with children in the house.

Plus, like others have said it's bloody hard to get a rescue dog with their often too strict criteria. My mum was turned down because of her working hours and she isn't full time and they have people who can come and let the dog out to pee on the days she is at work. Her partner also works very close to home and said he would be able to come home at times to walk the dog, but that wasn't good enough.

I have spent the last year or so looking at rescues ad they all have so many conditions that I haven't found one we could consider.

We have a 10 year old and a cat and that counts out 80% of dogs

We would happily have (and prefer) a Staffy, but many that are in rescue wouldn't fit in with our family. We are mostly at home and I think have an ideal set up for a dog...many rescues dont agree

I'd always take a rescue over a 'new' puppy. But I can see why people are put off, the home check, the rules on kids/cats/gardens/working/renting.

I know they are there for a very good reason (to stop them ending back in the rescue) but it makes it easier to get a puppy.

I wouldn't want a staffy either.

I love staffs and so does my husband but I have a bad back and therefore they are too strong for me.

They think they are lap dogs and want lots of cuddles but for me, as i am small and slender, they would be too big.

The dog I want is small enough that if they did pull on the lead it's small enough for me to control (long haired chihuahua)

Its not dismissing a breed the poster just doesnt want a staffie there is nothing wrong with wanting or not a specific breed saying that trendy breeds do end up in rescue i was looking at a rescue fb page and they were over run with huskies and malamutes the trend a couple of years ago for fluffy puppies were rife in my area

peace , I appreciate that but I don't agree with it , there is a thread on doghouse at the moment about an imported dog who has tongue worm - I find it quite worrying .

I would definitely consider rescue dogs but I know my DP is dead set against it (a battle for another day since we can't have a dog until we have our own home).

His reason is that he wants a well trained dog and believes that this is much more likely if we train the dog from scratch.

We will actually get two dogs when we move (a year or so away at least) so I will at least get mine from a rescue.

Yanbu

Hate the amount of 'specific' dogs that people seem to have to source through breeders and breeders....

So many wonderful dogs need homes

I have a rescue dog and he is the sweetest dog ever. Ive never had a moments trouble with him except he is a little neurotic.

I also have another rescue dog who ive had from a tiny puppy and she is EVIL her past effected her more than his even though she was younger.

However, I am not sure I would find it easy to rescue again as we work full time and have cats and a baby to consider so I would have to be very strict with what I could take on this time. Also I only like GSD and most of them in rescue have been owned by idiots and trying to correct bad training is easier said than done!

I also would never consider a staffy, don't know why that's so awful...different people like different things and I don't like bull breeds

Ooh CMOT Dogmatix is lovely. Good job I have 2 lovely whippets at home (rehomed privately).

My DC said recently that when our dogs die "we will be able to get a dog from the RSPCA."

I did find the "you can't have a dog because you've never had a dog" trying.

I know others rescues and other staff at that rspca were much more flexible asking sensible questions about meeting the dog's needs around working and our experience as a family with dogs.

To get ourselves ready for dog ownership we walked a sick neighbour's dog very regularly and looked after a good friend's dog whenever we could including overnight which helped us and the kids be confident and gave me chance to teach the DCs how to treat dogs with respect - not hugging or waking them etc.

They may well be wonderful dogs BUT if they need to go to a home without kids or cats or with another dog or never be left alone then we aren't the right home for them.
It's got to be about more than falling for the sad face in rescue. God if I just did that we would be overrun. It's about finding a dog that you are right for. For us I'm beginning to think the only way is a pedigree pup.

But they don't wolfie, I don't understand why you say that they all have this restriction. The last one that I linked to said brilliant with children and used to cats. Fine if you want a pedigree but its not true that no rescue will rehome if you have children or a cat.

It's the combination of not wanting a high energy bouncy dog or a feisty terrier and the above constrictions.
I am NOT set on a pedigree but most of the mutt dogs in rescue are combos of pedigrees I don't want.

The other issue for us will be that we will have small children and two cats so finding a rescue dog that is suitable is difficult. Plus a lot of rescue dogs are specific breeds...mainly Staffies, other bull terrier types and huskies.

I had a Staffy growing up so I absolutely know they can be lovely dogs but because of their strength I would not want one around small children that I hadn't known since a puppy as I don't know how its previous owner has treated it. We'd love huskies when we have older children but they need so much exercise that it wouldn't be ideal with two small children.

I wish they would bring in some laws to (a) stop irresponsible owners from having further animals and (b) to really limit pet animal breeding.

I used to volunteer at a rescue centre for Staffies to walk them and it broke my heart to see them all in their kennels all day

People do have preferences for dog breeds though and I don't see a problem. My Dsis always has Cavalier King Charles spaniels for reasons known to her.

And I agree with Wolfie...I've just had a look on Battersea and most of the dogs I looked at would be ruled out because they can't live with small children, can't live with another dog or can't live with cats or are a type of dog I don't want at the moment.

If you don't care what breed you have then a rescue should nearly always be a possibility.
But I'm afraid I do care. I have rescued moggies. But different dog breeds do have very different characteristics. A hugely intelligent collie or a Dalmatian bred to run with carriages all day would be a disaster here. I have to be realistic.

Stumbly have you looked at smaller independent rescues? I would hate for this thread to put people of rescues. They get such a negative press as it is.

I do NOT mean to put people off rescues. To be honest if we didn't have the cats I bet we could have had a dog in a flash!

We got out two labradors from pups, because I wanted labradors specifically and the experience of raising puppies along with raising my young children.

However, the next dogs we get will be from a rescue. I'm drawn to giving a couple of older labradors looking for a home together,hard to rehome as most people don't want older dogs and particular two together. And large vet bills which often come with older age. There are a surprising number looking for a home in that scenario.

I also donate a lot to dog rescue. More than any other charity. Some of them so badly need funding. It breaks my heart. I'm thinking of volunteering but not sure im strong enough emotionally.

The problem is often that people look online...rescues routinely don't put up easy to rehome dogs on their websites, if they'll be gone quickly without advertising, why would they?

We have a rescue staffy, she was 5/6/7 when we got her, she has her issues, we got in a behaviourist to help with her, she will never be cured of her issues but we know how to manage her, I can't imagine life without the huffy stinky bum madam all she wants is a sofa with a blankie and regular feeding!

I wouldn't think twice about getting another rescue staffy hopefully one that can live with other dogs so we can have two!

There are some at battersea who can live with children and pets, this one is reserved but they do have them.