You don't have a "rescue", you have a fucking dog!

[RoboticSealpup]

Is this a recent phenomenon? It seems like everyone who has a dog that wasn't bought from a breeder feels the need rub their virtue in others' faces every single time they mention the darned mongrel. "My poodle Henry -he's a two year old rescue - loves cheese!" It's like veganism but with dogs. Don't they realise how sanctimonious they sound?

It just happens to be two of my boys' 3rd Gotcha Day today. The big black boy was in a kill station waiting to be euthanised as his hunting life was behind him at just 4 years old. The brindle boy was found abandoned on the streets fending for himself and dodging the traffic. My third boy was also abandoned on the street, tied to a railing with a computer cable and riddled with disease.
I always tell people about the breed and awful lives (and deaths - after all, why waste a bullet?) they have when not useful to the hunters anymore. I also like to talk about the rescue organisations finding forever sofas for these gentle animals. I am proud that they are rescue dogs and I am proud of the rescue organisations (many operating on a shoestring).

I could feel the judgement coming off people before they realised he was like that because he is a rescue not because he needs rescuing

I know exactly what you mean. I was even grilled on my second visit to the vets, because of my dogs condition. He needs to be knocked out to be groomed because he went to a horrible groomer, when he was initially RESCUED 😝 By an elderly lady. They used to hold him down to groom him because he would scream and fight so much. Bastards. She used to smack him on the head when he would suddenly start biting her, while sitting on her knee. Poor soul was in agony and had no way, obviously, of letting her know. He then came to me, because she went into hospital and her brother was going to 'get rid' of him.

I don't give a fuck if I offend anyone when I say he's a rescue. Tough shit. You don't want to hear people say their dog is a rescue, then don't go near their dog.

I think some posters are feeling very guilty about something, when they're so irate when someone says they have a rescue. We're not telling you that you should feel guilty about paying big money for your 'pure breed' CockapooLabraSpanielWhatsitFace. They always say a fool and his money is easily parted. 😏😁

Ahhhh Four happy gotcha day to your boys 😍 hope they got extra treats today!!

Positively that's what we say, re a fool & his money. I'm regularly given abuse for correcting morons when they spout their fancy 'breeds' at me - wrong answer, your cavapoospaniel is a mutt. You were royally fleeced of your £800, der

must 😆

Not something I can get wound up very sorry..

I have 2 rescue dogs, nothing to do with being virtuous, I can't afford to get from a breeder. But I do explain to people they are rescue dogs because they are small and cute to look at and people think they have a hod given right to pile in to fuss them. It pissed me off and they get told before they get near that they are rescue dogs and not to duss/crowd them. People with kids who then answer with "but X is good with dogs, it will be fine" get short sharp. I don't give a rats arse if your cherub is good with dogs. Mt RESCUE dogs are not good with people they don't know, are very nervous and I wouldn't trust them not to snap and to understand that your precious child is only excited whilst lurching at them.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with being precocious or virtuous. I do it to try and get people to understand that you don't just walk up and fuss a dog you don't know.

Positively i used to get tagged in all these 'awww isn't this cute' videos of wonderously ridiculous crossbreeds on FB. People soon learned 😂 I find it outrageous that some people moan about paying £200 for a vacc'd/flea'd/wormed/sterilised/chipped/vet treated rescue...then go out & spend £££s on a pup of dubious origin from somebody's garden shed 🤔

Rescue is fine by me, it's 'fur baby' that makes me feel homicidal.

Lady all my pets are my fur babies 😃 Except the snake. That's a bit redundant. And I am their foster until they find their furever home!

I say Every opportunity that one of mine is a rescue; it helps to explain immediately her extreme timidity with humans. She was rescued from an awful puppy farm in Wales, pregnant, severely underweight, she stank, she had leg injuries held together by matted hair. She has come on so beautifully in the last six months that she is a running jumping waggling advert for the process of rescuing. If one single person hears me talk about her and decides to rescue then I'm happy to keep talking about her and where she came from and where she is now. I couldn't give a flying f@ck if someone might cringe about their own choice of a pup from some random pet shop or online sale.

OP; It's not virtue signalling or trying to rub it in anyone's face. The dog simply comes from a difficult background so might need a little help when dealing with dogs and humans. Oh and your comparison to veganism is hilarious. I was a vegetarian for 10 years and had to endure endless aggravation about it; i finally concluded this aggressive attitude stemmed from the guilty feelings of certain meat eaters. If you are generally reconciled to your choices (as I am with my meat consumption now) you have no need to pick at the choices of others.

Don't even. "Fur baby" comes up a lot in the vegan community (who by the way aren't "sanctimonious", thanks). But yeah, "Fur baby" makes me cringe every time.

Well given my dogs are not a rare breed and are beautiful, attracting lot's of attention when they go out, rescue is a reasonable explanation for this e.g 'we rescued them from Cyprus'. If we are asked for more details on the breed then we tell them.

I for one am proud of having rescued my two dogs, who would certainly be dead by now as there are so many homeless dogs needing homes where they come from. There are far too many people who want a 'puppy' for whatever reason, then as soon as that puppy is no longer tiny or cute, they throw them out on the street or drop them at the pound. Have you any idea how many healthy dogs are destroyed every year because they are abandoned? It's not pretty! The RSPCA destroy around half of the dogs they take in!

www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/news/over-47-000-people-heartlessly-abandoned-their-dogs-in-one-year

In America, 2-3 million cats and dogs are destroyed every year due to homelessness. Drawing attention to my dogs being rescued is not for status, it's to draw attention to others that rescue dogs are loving, gentle and wonderful companions. So many people, rule out rescue dogs because they worry that they don't know what has happened to the dog in the past. My two dogs have been through hell in their short lives and they are so grateful for the loving, happy home that they have now. They are amazing and compassionate animals, they are fantastic with my autistic son and very protective of me and my children. The love they give back to us is so much more than anything we have ever done for them!

Watching them blossom from cowering, terrified pups who expected abuse into confident, loving and affectionate companions and family members, has been a privilege! I am proud to call them my Rescue pups! Although I would argue that they rescued us more than we could ever rescue them!

This is our dog, a stray found in the city near us and handed into the dogs’ home three days before Christmas two years ago. He came home with us on the 2nd of January and has been ruling the roost ever since! He rescued us -from the loneliness in our house after our 13yr old cavalier had to be put to sleep the previous September.

Clementine, the point is your poor, sweet dog was an actual RESCUE case. Rescued from an horrendous situation and luckily ended up with you as a caring owner. Think the OP is referring to people who trot off to a dogs home and end up with some lovely dog who is being rehomed due to elderly owner/divorce/can’t afford to keep anymore. Left there by people who haven’t mistreated the dog but for whatever reason can’t keep their dog and are sad about it. Then new owner spouts off about having rescued a dog. Which by saying their dog is a “rescue” seems to give them a halo. But hey, like I said before if it gets another dog out of kennels it’s all good.

We have a lovely little spaniel who came from Dog's Trust. We're almost certain she's a failed gun dog. She's absolutely terrified of loud noises, which is why we tell people she came to us from Dog's Trust, as we're not sure of her background. She can be a bit flighty, and we want to make sure that she doesn't get a fright, or run off, if there is noise.

I don't see it as bragging, more an explanation of how the animal came to live with you.
Current cat came from a rescue centre. He's one of 60 cats removed from one house, so probably his own first cousin.
Cat before that was slung over my garden wall tied in a carrier bag as a kitten.
One before that belonged to a vague friend of a friend who had bought a kitten from an advert in a newsagents window but didn't ask her landlord if it was OK.
Previous to that kitten from a work mate who didn't feel it was necessary to spay her cat.
I have had rabbits purchased for children screaming "I want" with no thought about how they were going to be looked after.
And so it goes on
How old is current cat? No idea
What breed is he? Moggie, but who knows, maybe he's the result of a breeding programme gone wrong?
How can you possibly be offended by people giving a home to an unwanted animal?

I think adopted is a nicer description than rescued. The word rescued, to me, conjours up images of abuse , or someone dangling from a helicopter or running into a burning building. Many dogs are unfortunately rehomed due to a divorce or a change in circumstances. They've not been "rescued" in that sense.

There is something a bit cringey about 'rescued'. It's more heroic than the reality. Unless of course you have swooped in and unchained them from imminent peril of course, then the term fits. However, if you've visited a rehoming centre for unwanted dogs, then the 'rescuing' has already occurred, but not actually by you. You've rehomed an unwanted or mistreated dog, which is of course admirable (but doesn't need to be overblown).

Our boy is an ex-racer, not mistreated thankfully. We use 'rehomed' normally, I don't refer to him as a 'rescue' dog.

i hate i paid 800 off a breeder an hes got a stupid name brigade

Don't like 'adopted' for animals. That's what my children are.

It depends - if "It's a rescue" is being used to justify antisocial behaviour - like the giant fucking aggressive pitbull that is exercised off-leash in the park across the road from me (that has signs stating that dogs must be on a lead) and often in the middle of small children. (It has bitten every dog that lives in the street, my husband and my neighbour - the council are about to take action. FINALLY)
BUT - if you meet an adorable, happy dog that is treated well by it's humans and taught how to behave properly, I think "It's a rescue" is worthy of merit.

Both my bunnies are rescued rabbits, i don’t see why the OP sees it as a negative thing if people are proud of their rescue animal. My friends & family know our bunny is a rescued rabbit as we told them we were getting him but don’t bring it up every time they come round.

I prefer adopting an animal from a rescue centre as they’re normally neutered, had their jabs, microchipped and checked over for any illnesses you should be aware of. We did pay a fee but that money went towards looking after other rabbits. I love my little man and he had a crap start to life stuck in a tiny hutch so small he couldn’t clean himself properly & he was covered in eczema.

I have a rescue dog. He is called Bosintang. It keeps it on his toes

Everyone who meets my dog asks what breed he is. I say he's a mutt, and (being in New England, and having a dog who looks the way he looks) they immediately ask if he's a rescue from the south.

In future I will make sure to reply "NO HE'S NOT A RESCUE DOG FROM THE SOUTH. HE'S A FUCKING DOG OK!"

Channelling the OP quite nicely there I feel.

Our dog is a rescue (or rescued for the pedantic).

I always tell people who ask her breed as she is a puggle (beagle/ pug cross) and I don't want them thinking I had her hideously bred to my specifications - her litter got abandoned and we adopted her at 4 months. That's all.

If you find that sanctimonious then I think that's your issue frankly, not mine.