To think that "rescuing" an imported dog is a bad idea?

[pepsicolagirl]

So last lockdown (ahem, and the one before) we had the company of our dog to motivate us to get moving everyday. She was an old girl who sadly had to be put to sleep in September due to old age and early stage heart failure.

Since then I have been looking for a new dog to join our family. I feel very strongly that I'm just a better version of myself when I have a dog around and we can offer a nice family home with years of dog ownership experience and a nice big secure garden. I work from home (did so pre lockdown) so no issue there

But OMG the prices of dogs at the moment!!!
Now, I understand that cheap dogs are not a good idea because of people buying them on a whim but even though I KNOW I can afford the day to day costs of feeding and properly caring for a pup I can in no way justify upwards of 1500 to buy one and I am absolutely gutted about it.

I have been looking at rescues too, it would be nice to have a young puppy but I am absolutely aware of the amount of work involved and I would be happy to open our home to a rescue but there are none out there suitable for a home with 6yrs+ children so that's not an option.

The other thing I'm seeing all over the place are dogs/puppies which have been rescued in places like Romania and then sold in the UK.
Now, the prices are lower and many accept kids 6+ but why does it feel like such a bad idea to me!?
If you've got one of these dogs I would love to hear from you as to why I'm wrong in feeling like this about them?

I have a rescue from Spain. Lovely nature. In my experience, a good adoption rescue group check you very thoroughly (interview and home check), and warn you of the bad points about rescues. Health issues should be considered (eg leishmaniasis is a nasty thing that can't be cured, only managed), and is endemic in Mediterranean countries but not here, so vets may not be familiar with it. If you go to a good rescue (save our spaniels is one), you should get checked carefully for suitability. Costs as a PP said are to cover neutering, vaccines and transport, not "buying" the dog. A good rescue is likely to have had the dog fostered for a few weeks to see how it behaves, and will have a contract to take the dog back if it doesn't work out for you. The 3-3-3 rule is worth remembering for rescues, 3 days to stop being terrified, 3 weeks to start showing personality and 3 months to settle. But an ill treated dog may take much longer. Not for everyone but I love mine 🥰

My sister has a romanian rescue dog. He is a delight, calm, quiet, house trained & brilliant with kids and other dogs. He came to the UK at about age 2 and is the best dog I've ever met. He would he a brilliant therapy dog as he is so calm, nothing really phases him. If I was in a position to adopt a dog I would 100% look at romanian rescues. We can't believe how lucky we have been with him. (Disclaimer - he has NO commands other than lie down!? But will come when you call him and due to the lack of commands doesn't get off lead unless in a dog park/enclosed area. He also doesn't 'play' unless it's with another dog - no interest in toys!)

I always wonder why don't people adopt dogs where they are? It seems crazy to pay to import strays, when we have enough here?

@VinterKvinna, the answer always seems to be ‘because we were turned away from UK rescues due to our circumstances’. Overseas rescues don’t seem to be as picky. Do overseas rescues do any vetting of new homes/owners?

@dotty12345 poor love. At least you understand why he does it and have support. Thank you for rescuing.,

These dogs , as all pets do, , need 100% commitment and love. They need a lot of patience and understanding for the issues they may have and horrors most have experienced.

There are stupid fucking people only getting them because they don't meet the criteria set by rescues here. There is a reason they don't get approved by UK rescues. They are not suitable.

As for people moaning about getting bitten ffs, that could be ANY dog!

I'm sick of useless failed owners and their pathetic excuses and whims. Most of them shouldn't be trusted to clean out a fish tank let alone be responsible for the life of a sentient being!

I am the foster hone step between these Romanian dogs coming into the U.K. and them being placed into your home. The minimum time I can foster an individual for is 48 hours the maximum I’ve had one is 3 months. If you look for the right rescue you will be housechecked and matched to a suitable dog. We certainly don’t just dump dogs with whoever.

Dogs, like people, are all individuals. I’ve had dogs that won’t leave their hidey hole and are too scared to go outside without a lot of love and patience and I’ve had dogs that 10 minutes after arriving are curled up on my lap like they’ve been here all their lives. Dogs who like people and dogs who like quiet, dogs that love playing and dogs that just want cuddles. Dogs that are stubborn and dogs that are easy to train. The only thing I have never experienced is a runaway, in the right environment and with enough time all dogs will settle into their new home.

We have certified dog behaviourists and trainers who can provide support if needed and any dog that isn’t suitable MUST be returned to us.

Left overseas most of these dogs will die. The adoption fee is what it costs to get them in the country, no one is making money from Romanian rescue dogs. But I would much prefer to get a young puppy from an overseas rescue than buy from advert masking a puppy farm.

For pp asking what my issues are, it's more like just a general bad feeling about it really. I'm certainly not out to paint ask rescues as bad!!

ALL of the dogs I've owned have been rescues (1st one was a newborn puppy who I literally rescued from being drowned, 2nd was a dog that a friend of a friend had but could not keep due to relationship breakdown and 3rd was a dog which was being grossly neglected so I offered to take her) so I'm definitely not anti rescue

I suppose the things that are putting me off are
No background knowledge for the dog. I'm worried that street dogs will be very challenging to domesticated and I wouldn't want to cause stress to the dog.
Suspicious of the motives of the rescues
Is it a good idea to bring more dogs into the Country?
Are there diseases/conditions etc that dogs in other countries can carry that we don't usually find in UK dogs?
Don't want to be ripped off by going thru a dodgy person.

There are more than enough animals to rescue in the UK;
Better support if things don't work out;
Many of the dogs from abroad haven't lived in a family home and don't adapt to home life;
They can bring disease over;
Colleague has just "rescued" 2 from China as they were destined for the meat trade - both have horrendous veterinary issues and may not survive.
But you may be lucky and find a great dog. Your risk

Someone I know rescued a puppy from a shelter in Crete, it's all worked out fine (she was probably too young to have behavioural issues and all the relevant worming/vaccinations and health checks had been done. It was via
www.soudashelter.org

I have a dog and a cat and I love them dearly but I do question the wisdom and motives of these sorts of organisations. The ones in Thailand (is it soidog?), the one that feeds and neuters street dogs and cats in Sri Lanka but I do wonder whether they are doing the right thing really. I wonder if these animals should actually be being humanely PTS, rather than creating a business in overseas adoptions (I absolutely do not believe that these are all altruistic) and potentially spreading diseases across borders. I appreciate this is a controversial opinion and one that I’ll probably get flamed for.

I also worry that some of these overseas puppy rescues are puppy farms. It’s just so opaque. Adding a dog to your family, whether by adoption or purchase, is a minefield.

@Inthemuckheap basing your opinion on 2 dogs from China? I can see why so many dog lovers have signed Off this post. Good rescues will give the same level of support as a U.K. rescue. I know mine does. And all vet checked. You think you can just bring a diseased animal into the country????

Someone I know has been caught out recently with an imported dog. It was disclosed that the dog had an injury which had been successfully treated and would cause no issues, and was otherwise healthy and well.

Dog needs emergency surgery as injury had not been treated correctly (shockingly so!). It is in significant pain and lacks mobility. It also has other reasonably serious, but treatable conditions.

Owner insured the dog, but as pre-existing conditions they will not pay out. Charity will do nothing other than collect the dog in a few weeks and ‘return’ it abroad Cue massive go fund me effort as owner isn’t in the position to come up with £3 - 5000 immediately.

The dog is an absolute sweetheart, the owner does all they possibly can for their animals. Just a sad situation.

Have you looked at greyhound rescues? Greyhounds are amazing pets, very loving and once they've settled in, they feel like you've had them for years!! We have one and wouldn't change him for the world! There are some that they won't home with children but not very many, as they've very gentle / placid on the whole!

@pepsicolagirl

For pp asking what my issues are, it's more like just a general bad feeling about it really. I'm certainly not out to paint ask rescues as bad!!

ALL of the dogs I've owned have been rescues (1st one was a newborn puppy who I literally rescued from being drowned, 2nd was a dog that a friend of a friend had but could not keep due to relationship breakdown and 3rd was a dog which was being grossly neglected so I offered to take her) so I'm definitely not anti rescue

I suppose the things that are putting me off are
No background knowledge for the dog. I'm worried that street dogs will be very challenging to domesticated and I wouldn't want to cause stress to the dog.
Suspicious of the motives of the rescues
Is it a good idea to bring more dogs into the Country?
Are there diseases/conditions etc that dogs in other countries can carry that we don't usually find in UK dogs?
Don't want to be ripped off by going thru a dodgy person.

Why do you assume a 'street' dog? At the municipal kennels where I volunteer, most of the dogs have arrived because their owner has died or has been forced to give them up (poverty/relationship split/moving to an unsuitable property) or are as a result of an unwanted litter.

Also, if a rescue/registered charity has received a dog, they have to home it, feed it, register it, chip it, possibly neuter it and provide veterinary treatment. Not a great earner in terms of ripping people off!

I have a rescue dog who came from Fosterers in the Uk but was originally from Spain.

I got him at about 5 months old and he's is the most amazing chilled dog.

BUT and this is a massive BUT, he has just been diagnosed with Leishmaniasis at the age of almost 7. It has taken the vets months to figure out what was making him ill as it's pretty unheard of in the UK. Also it has lain dormant for all those years. It has cost a fortune although thankfully he is insured.

I don't regret it as he's an amazing dog but I don't think I'd rescue from abroad again.

I have a bulgarian rescue and she is absolutely fabulous! Brilliant with the children, friendly and has never been shy or nervous at all.
She wasn't a stray though which I think has helped. She was a chain dog. But she loves everyone.

She barks a lot at other dogs but this is frustration about wanting to play. She plays lovely with other dogs off lead.

Honestly i wouldn't rule it out but make sure you go through a reputable rescue as there is many dodgy ones around!

There are more than enough animals to rescue in the UK

That may be the case but there are also many rescues who refuse to rehome to people for the most nit picky of reasons.

A friend has recently adopted a rescue from Portugal having tried and failed here for YEARS. She has a large house, secure garden, works from home and has a strong network of friends to care for the dog if she needs to be away for more than a couple of hours.

She says she went through less vetting when she went through the adoption process and felt the rescue homes quite enjoyed the sense of power and hoop jumping and were very scathing of a single woman being a suitable carer for a dog - which is bonkers!

Her rescue dog is a sweetheart and has landed on its furry little feet as she is the most conscientious, caring and pro-active dog owner I have ever seen. She could have been giving all of that to a British rescue dog.

In contrast I know a m/f couple who were approved to rehome a large dog despite living in a small flat - they had to return the dog within a month as it was a disastrous combination. They adopted from another rescue recently and that’s going the same way.

Some of the rescue homes here could give their heads a wobble on the power trips and be more open minded on who they deem ‘best’ to rehome.

our local resuce brings dogs in from overseas.

I have very mixed feelings about it, don't like the amount spent on bringing dogs over, I would rather it was spent at source neutering strays for example.

The biggest problem is the unknown. Some dogs have been held at a resuce centre overseas for a while, so they have been assessed, and once her, some are fostered first, so they can get to know the dog.

We have a UK rescue, he is a dustbin dog, eats anything he finds all the time. I know that atsome point this will be his downfall, but apart from that he is lovely. Beautiful family pet.

Try the Spanish rescues. Young dogs dumped early over v spurious issues. A much better quality of rescue than lots of the Uk rescues which tend to have dogs with multiple issues or v picky rescue centres asking for the moon.

The good ones home check you and send the dogs over on a bus. Some go to foster homes in the uk first.
Bear in mind that a rescue as with a puppy is going to take a good 6 months to a year to completely settle in.

@Friendnextdoor

My sister has a romanian rescue dog. He is a delight, calm, quiet, house trained & brilliant with kids and other dogs. He came to the UK at about age 2 and is the best dog I've ever met. He would he a brilliant therapy dog as he is so calm, nothing really phases him. If I was in a position to adopt a dog I would 100% look at romanian rescues. We can't believe how lucky we have been with him. (Disclaimer - he has NO commands other than lie down!? But will come when you call him and due to the lack of commands doesn't get off lead unless in a dog park/enclosed area. He also doesn't 'play' unless it's with another dog - no interest in toys!)

My Eastern European rescue is just the same. You could not ask for a calmer, better dog with kids. Honestly. She's not perfect - no dog is, no matter if you got them as a puppy or rehomed them as an adult, they all have quirks and challenges - but she is brilliant. I have considered her for a therapy dog, she's been the best audience for my reluctant reader. But no time to do it. Her main issue is squirrels and rabbits. If I spent more time training her she'd be even better.

PJsAreWorkAttire - you sound like to do a brilliant job.

OP - I'd never tell anyone to do it, just based on my dog, because we were lucky, I know. But I do think if you have dog-experience, pick the right charity who has back-up and credentials, and let them help you choose the right dog, there is no real difference in rehoming from a UK rescue or abroad.

Brexit has made it much harder, though.

I think you should listen to your instincts. There are good and bad importing rescues, just as there is good and bad in everything, however it wouldn't be for me for the reasons you've outlined.

The route that worked for us was picking a breed-specific UK rescue and building up a relationship with them. It took a while, but eventually the right dog for us came through their doors. I completely agree that buying now is madness - but sadly I also anticipate there will be a lot of dogs coming into rescue once people start to go back into work.

This is my little Romanian rescue. Been with us five years now. We already had two U.K. rescue labs and had no intention of getting another, but that little face appeared on my friend’s rescue Facebook page just as my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday! I knew the lady that brought them over. She was cabin crew, as was I, and we did a flight together and I heard all about it ty though her. She’d fund raised so the dogs could be pulled out of the disgusting Romanian pounds and be properly checked over and assessed plus have good health checks and be neutered before coming over. Despite her actually knowing me I was properly home checked (the lab rescue we used never home checked us or checked afterwards). They had a good rescue Facebook page for people that had adopted where there was a lot of backup. I stayed involved for a couple of years on the committee and can only remember two or three dogs that had to come back, and that was more to do with impatient owners than issues with the dogs. All of them did well in their next homes.

Obviously you have to give them time to settle and it can take a while. Mine slept on the doormat for two weeks before she’d go in her bed, and took four months to housetrain because she weed out of submission. We had two other dogs she bonded with, which helped. She’s never growled or bitten even when scared. She’s a really lovely little dog that adores people.

Shes beautiful. A proper scruff!

I have a spanish dog and shes honestly such a blessing.

Ive got a UK rescue too who is older, but this time, for some reason I couldnt find a rescue dog in UK that didnt have significant behavioural issues and could be housed with kids or cats. Then a friend pointed me towards the rescue she got her dog from, that has both british and foreign dogs, and they had a page of dogs that had been cat tested, and after a bit of running around, and home check etc, we got her and shes just been brilliant.

I know some people seem to have strong opinions on it, but I dont really care. A dog in need is a dog in need, no matter where its from, and its a hundred times better than supporting the commercial dog breeding industry, which I never would